Thanks to Ray for an update on the Adopt-A-Garden scheme, in his own words. Ed
Thanks to support from the Big Lottery’s Local Food Fund The Footprint Trust’s Adopt-A-Garden scheme has recruited a dozen more gardeners and is now looking for gardens for the volunteers to ‘Adopt’. The ‘Can You Dig It’ training has enabled local people with little knowledge of gardening to gain the skills needed to ‘Adopt’ a garden, and already some of the trainees have a crop growing.
The Island has hundreds on waiting for an allotment and most people have to wait at least three years to a space, hence the need for the scheme.
Linking those who can, with those who can’t
The Adopt-A-Garden scheme links those who do not have a garden with those who can no longer look after their own. But in most areas of the Island there has been a shortage of gardeners, as many would-be volunteers lacked skills. Hence the need to run a training scheme. Everyone involved in Adopt-A-Garden has a free CRB (police check) to safeguard vulnerable people.
To date over 50 people have been matched and formerly overgrown gardens are now producing local food rather than weeds.
Positive responses since 2003
Adopt-A-Garden was launched on the Island in 2003 and has received positive feedback from the national gardening press and has been mentioned on Gardeners’ Question Time.
“The gardeners in our scheme usually grow vegetables and often share them with the garden owner”¦this reduces food miles and helps everyone save money and enjoy fresh produce” said Don Roe of The Footprint Trust.
The Trust is asking for members of the public, care and health workers to promote the scheme to their clients and patients.
“Gardening is a great way of keeping fit”¦as is eating freshly picked fruit and vegetables. The scheme also takes worry away from elderly people who can no longer care for their garden.”
Free leaflets and more information are available from the charity’s website footprint-trust.co.uk/adoptgarden.html or by calling Don on (01983) 82-22-82.
