A Sheffield-based project that will engage members of the local community within Wybourn Allotment and Orchard has received funding from Esh Construction’s Greener Communities programme.
Great Places Housing Group, working in partnership with Green Estates, are the latest organisations to receive funding via the programme, which was launched by Esh Construction in partnership with County Durham Community Foundation last year.
The donation will allow Green Estates to provide a horticultural ranger with mental health first aid training to deliver sessions for local residents at the allotment and orchard project. The project is located on the Wybourn Estate to the East of Sheffield City Centre.
A polytunnel will be built to extend the growing season and an orchard will be developed, providing an educational facility so local residents can learn how to grow fruit and vegetables and eat healthily by using seasonal produce and low-cost ingredients.
Steven Gayle, community and partnership manager at Great Places, said: “Great Places are pleased to be partnering with Esh and The Green Estate in Sheffield to regenerate our unused spaces and engage with residents to promote healthy living, food growth and opportunities for personal development.”
Green Estates was founded in 2003 as a heritage and environmental regeneration project in Sheffield. Since then, the Green Estates team of staff, volunteers and partners have turned 42 hectares of derelict land and heritage buildings into a unique, beautiful and sustainable landscape where people and nature can thrive.
Ted Talbort, director of place at Green Estates, said: “We believe that everyone should have access to local green spaces that are engaging, adaptive and resilient. It has been a joy to watch people’s confidence flourish through food growing as part of a team effort on our community allotment. I try to join them for their Friday harvest lunches rustled up from whatever is ready to pick. It’s the highlight of my week!”
Megan Roberts, Esh’s social value manager across the Yorkshire region, said: “The Greener Communities programme aims to help those within our local communities to develop green spaces within their area. As the cost of living continues to rise, projects like this will be key in helping those who are affected most throughout these tough times, whether this is through the growth of fresh produce to provide food for families, or advice and guidance on issues including mental health.”
Esh’s Greener Communities programme helps communities become ‘greener’ through carbon reduction, environmental improvement and education projects. A fund of £50,000 was allocated to support projects which are centred around green skills, climate resilience, improving green spaces and habitats.
Wybourn Orchard and Allotment Project is based just three miles from Fir View Gardens where Esh is working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group to deliver 20 new affordable homes in Sheffield.
