Green-fingered members of Grove Grows have been showing off their skills in National Allotments Week.
Grove Cottage, based at London Road, has a plot at Bishop’s Stortford Town Council’s newest allotment site in Thorley Street and also collaborates with Manor Fields Primary School.
The club, for adults with learning disabilities, is led by its nine members with staff on hand to help.
Horticultural success
Projects include building raised flower beds, landscaping the garden, creating bird boxes and bug hotels, as well as painting planters.
Members have learned practical skills and made lasting friendships built on a shared love of gardening.
Grove Grows Club leader Freya Boittier explained: “I love being with our Grove Grows members outside. Being in the fresh air and connecting with the environment is so good for everyone’s mental health.
Hard at work
“A lot of adult clubs are based indoors, but Grove Grows offers a change of scenery. We run all year round, so members learn about the weather, the changing environment, and gardening in all seasons.”
One member said: “Grove Grows is my favourite club. I enjoy being outside in a smaller group. I have great discussions with everyone and enjoy gardening.”
Members have grown fruits and vegetables this summer and enjoyed using the club’s harvests to learn about healthy eating and the journey from planting to plate.
Inspecting progress
Participants are allowed to take the produce home and enjoy the fruits of their labour with their families.
After her daughter brought broad beans and rainbow radishes home, one parent said: “We made a delicious vegan chickpea and broad bean curry. Picked and cooked within three hours…you can’t get fresher than that!”
Grove Grows is not just about growing flowers, fruits and vegetables; it is about growing confidence, friendships and wellbeing too.
Getting to grips with planting
This year’s National Allotment Week (August 11 to 17) theme is Allotments and Wellbeing.
Launched in 2002, the annual initiative aims to raise awareness of allotments and their role in helping people live healthier lifestyles, grow their food, develop friendships, and bolster communities.
Anne Ratcliffe, who has been cultivating her Hallingbury Road West allotment for a decade with husband Steven, urged other residents to grow their own at one of over 600 allotment plots on 11 sites managed by the town council.
The fruits of Grove Grows labour
Anne said: “I love my allotment, I get a lot of pleasure being there, either in the middle of winter or on a summer’s day.
“The bonus is bringing home fresh produce which has not been treated with pesticides or insecticides. The food tastes so much better, too.
“Commercial crops are generally grown for quantity and keeping qualities, while home-grown crops are grown for flavour. That is a big difference.
Harvest time
“I would add that allotments, as I am sure you know, are hard work, but the rewards far outweigh the effort.”
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