As green thumbs across the UK celebrate National Gardening Week, one community garden run by Liverpool homeless charity Emmaus is highlighting how tending to plants can transform lives.
Tucked away among the concrete landscape of Litherland and Seaforth, the “secret garden” began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sizable garden plot had humble beginnings, with only a small area of plant pots. However, longtime volunteer Janet said the garden has undergone an unbelievable transformation in the six years it has been operating.
The garden now flourishes with a colourful range of fruit and vegetables, which are utilised in the onsite community hub where fresh bakes are sold to fundraise for the charity. Excess produce is shared with the local St Lenords food bank.
Volunteers like Janet work alongside the companions, who are individuals who have experienced homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, who live at the Emmaus site. The collaboration between experienced gardeners and amateurs has fostered a sense of community and pride in their green space.
Plants at emmaus Liverpool by Lucy Ellison MAJ
Garden participation is part of a broader initiative to teach practical skills to individuals as they transition to independent living.
Janet said: “The whole point of the garden is being beneficial for the companions here, so they can come and see something grow”
“We do feel really proud of what we have done”
The garden has welcomed guests of all ages, from primary school children who have learnt about harvesting cycles and well-being groups who have gathered to contribute to the mural painted across the brick walls surrounding the garden.
National Gardening Week, which runs from 27 April to 3 May 2026 and organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), is celebrated every year to encourage people to get outside, embrace their love of planting and promote the physical and mental benefits of gardening.
The event highlights the benefits of green spaces, community gardens are gaining renewed attention in urban areas such as Liverpool.
Emmaus community garden by Lucy Ellison MAJ
Talia Johnson, the catering manager who oversees the garden, says she has seen this shift firsthand:
“People are really falling back into older ways of living and slower paces of life. People are really calling for that, yearning for that.
“With climate change and all the environmental issues, and the cost-of-living, people are really starting to rethink things.”
She added that, particularly in cities, community gardens are becoming increasingly popular as people seek sustainable ways to access fresh food and spend time outdoors.
The Emmaus Community Hub and Garden is open to all Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.
Comments are closed.