Last updated: April 2022
Green space created behind Rock Ferry library on unused land. The plot of unused land, owned by the Wirral Council, signed a lease with the 'Grow Sow Well' project to run a volunteering scheme and sessions for the community (particularly aiming to help people with mental health issues). Grow Sow Well worked with residents, schools and community groups, bringing people together to celebrate their area and increase awareness of healthy eating and food production. (Ref. 1, 2) This lease has was transferred to the organisation called the Utopia Project (works with young people and includes horticulture). (Ref. 8)
Volunteers working in Utopia Project
http://s527073957.initial-website.co.uk/community/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Environmental and climate justice
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Other
Project objectives
The overall goal of Grow Sow Well project (which was leased the unused plot of land at Rock Ferry, creating the community garden) is “to increase the physical and mental wellbeing of local people through community gardens on the Wirral.” (Ref. 3)
Other general aims collected from a BBC Radio Merseyside interview with Helen Buckingham (director of Grow Sow Well), "building new gardens in previously unused pieces of land" (to use for therapeutic purposes) and use wildlife garden to because "attracting the bees is going to help with pollination". (Ref. 4, from the BBC Radio Merseyside interview)
The aim is also to “raise awareness of healthy eating and food production”. (Ref. 2)
Implementation activities
The Rock Ferry community garden includes a vegetable garden and wildflower garden (to bring in wildlife). (Ref. 4; and Ref. 4 from the BBC Radio Merseyside interview)
A partnership with Utopia Project to transform Rock Ferry included young people gardening by landscaping the area and planting various trees. (Ref. 4)
Regarding the status of the project: In August 2015, Helen Buckingham officially registered Grow Sow Well as a community interest company. (Ref. 2)
In 2016, the lease of the land plot at Rock Ferry has been transferred to an organisation called the Utopia Project. (Ref. 8)
It is unclear whether this NBS is still ongoing.
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities, Other
- Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Grow Sow Well has enlisted the help of the Utopia Project, a Wirral alternative education programme for young people struggling with formal education. Other organisations and community leaders involved in the project have included local Councillors, Wirral Council, Birkenhead Constituency Team, and Lairdside Communities Together. (Ref. 1) The lease of the land plot was transferred to the organisation called the Utopia Project in 2016. (Ref. 8)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
No
(“The garden was created by Helen Buckingham, from Bebington, who was inspired by a course she attended at The Eden Project.” (Ref. 5) )
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
Ref. 1. Echo (2015) Rock Ferry community garden attracts attention of Cornwall's Eden Project. Liverpool News. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Accessed 25th August 2020]
Ref. 2. Eden project communities (n.d.) Bringing people together to celebrate where they live. Inspiring stories. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25th August 2020]
Ref. 3. Grow Sow Well (n.d.) Grow Sow Well on Facebook. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 4. Utopia Project (n.d.) Utopia Support Grow Sow Well Community Garden. Community. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 5. Wirral Globe (2015) Community garden invites public to dig in and grow their own veg. Manning, C. 26th August 2015. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 6. Wirral Council (2007) Allotment Strategy 2007-2012. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 7. Wirral Council (2015) Allotments partnership strategy & improvement plans 2015-2020. Final version. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 8. Wirral Counsil (2016) Contituency Managers Report. Birkenhead Constituency Team Neighbourhood Engagement Update. Brikenhead Constituency Committee, Wirral. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 2. Eden project communities (n.d.) Bringing people together to celebrate where they live. Inspiring stories. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25th August 2020]
Ref. 3. Grow Sow Well (n.d.) Grow Sow Well on Facebook. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 4. Utopia Project (n.d.) Utopia Support Grow Sow Well Community Garden. Community. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 5. Wirral Globe (2015) Community garden invites public to dig in and grow their own veg. Manning, C. 26th August 2015. Information obtained: 2017-07-24. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 6. Wirral Council (2007) Allotment Strategy 2007-2012. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 7. Wirral Council (2015) Allotments partnership strategy & improvement plans 2015-2020. Final version. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 8. Wirral Counsil (2016) Contituency Managers Report. Birkenhead Constituency Team Neighbourhood Engagement Update. Brikenhead Constituency Committee, Wirral. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Volunteers working in Utopia Project
http://s527073957.initial-website.co.uk/community/