Residential Community

The city of Coventry is blessed with a strong sense of community, local residents are keen to get involved with the campaign through different involvement schemes such as group gardening in community spaces, parks and open space development initiatives, residents associations and community groups.

Local residents from Vicroft Court and Starley Road underwent a community clear up where the gardening group headed up a two day spring clean of their shared space outside the housing association. Many local schools have also been heavily involved with the campaign. Whoberley Hall School have worked alongside CV One and English Landscapes to nurture and grow their own vegetable plots.

Thumbnail : The Girl Guides helped with the design and planting of the Trinity bed in their iconic trefoil design : Click image to enlarge

The local Girl Guides also celebrated their centenary this year by helping to design and plant the Trinity bed with their iconic trefoil design.

Eventide Homes have a beautiful, landscaped garden square which the residents help maintain and are rightly proud of. The elderly residents in Lady Herbert’s Cottages with the help of English Landscapes received and abundance of plants, vegetables and herbs in their gardens to brighten up their residence as well as embracing the increasingly popular trend for growing your own fruit and veg.

The residents of Starley Road have also pulled together to create some stunning hanging baskets along their street, the residents in this street have an exceptionally strong sense of community pride after campaigning to save the last terraced inner city street in Coventry from demolition in the 70s. The residents formed the city’s first housing cooperative. The group is still very active today, attracting funds to pay for the renovation and conversion programme which includes brightening the area with plants and flowers.

Thumbnail : Coventry Carers Association Allotment Project showcases how gardening can bring communities together : Click image to enlarge

Coventry Carers Association has an allotment in Coventry, when the plot was initially taken over by the carers centre it was overgrown and the soil was in need of some nourishment. With the hard work of gardeners employed through Groundworks, a government funded scheme to get 18-24 year olds back into employment, the site has changed dramatically. Huge areas have been strimmed, rotivated and raised beds have been put in place for growing fruit and vegetables to sell to the carers who access support from the Carers Centre. The Allotment Project perfectly showcases how gardening can bring communities together and transform the lives of people struggling to care for a family member or friend. The carers centre are delighted that Allesley Old Road has been included in the judges route around the city and that their Tile Hill site will be part of the portfolio of other projects around Coventry.

The allotment project is in its third year now and aims to give carers a break from their role so that they can learn new skills in a friendly environment amongst people who understand their situation.

Thumbnail : Growing Concern - community based allotment for the older generation : Click image to enlarge

The Coventry branch of Age Concern has created growing concern, a community based allotment and garden for the older generation. Growing Concern offers a sociable setting for older people interested in gardening, growing produce or simply spending time in a pleasant outdoor setting amongst friends. It is open every Tuesday from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Part of the site is wheelchair accessible with high level beds. There is year round activity to keep the plot in top condition with the potential for bumper crops during the season. The scheme also partners up with CPU probation service which helps to rehabilitate offenders by tasking them with more manual jobs such as grounds maintenance, erection of sheds and poly tunnels.
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