A community garden that supports adults with learning disabilities and children struggling at school, has a new outdoor kitchen area, thanks to funding from the National Lottery.
Cutting the ribbon will be Daley Thompson, described as the greatest all-round athlete this country has ever produced, and a recent contestant in Celebrity Big Brother. His partner’s son volunteers at the garden.
The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden & Wildlife Project offers cooking skills, gardening and outdoor education opportunities, and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Cook Jo Pearson, who provides lunch for more than eighty people a week said: ‘This is going to make a massive difference; we will be able to offer more support and more training – as well as not getting soaked every time it rains! Not only do people learn to cook a healthy meal from scratch, it is also a chance to harvest, cook and eat the vegetables that we grow; giving people an understanding of seasonality and a sense of connection to the garden around them. Peelings and garden waste are added to our onsite compost bays, revamped this year as part of the Food Use Places project. The resulting compost feeds our zero food miles fruit and veg.’
Collaboration was the name of the game, with woodland designer Ian Barnett working with volunteers of all abilities to support their work experience.
Project Manager Warren Carter said “Being a community garden, food obviously plays a massive part of what we do. Ian has designed our new kitchen area so that it nestles beautifully into the garden on the edge of the South Downs National Park. It will strengthen our collaborations with local disability services to move our volunteers into training and paid employment as well as being able to offer the space to other groups.”
* The opening will take place on Tuesday 3rd June, 11.30am at Moulsecoomb Forest Garden, Queensdown School Road (directly behind Moulsecoomb train station).
Please RSVP if you are coming along to Project Manager, Warren Carter info@moulsecoombforestgarden.org
Lunch will of course be provided from the new cooking area.
