Author: Ray Harrington-Vail
Adopt-A-Garden: Calling Ventnorian Garden Owners/Gardeners
Wednesday, 23rd April, 2008 at 10:28 am, Isle of Wight
Many thanks to Ray Harrington-Vail form the Footprint Trust for sending through this update to the Adopt-A-Garden scheme which was launched on the Wight recently. It’s a brilliant scheme but we were surprised to hear that the take up in Ventnor is very low. Take a read through following and if you think you;d like to get involved, contact details are at the bottom. Ed
The Adopt-A-Garden scheme is an innovative idea, which seeks to bring together two types of people. The person who has a garden they can no longer look after and the individual who wants a growing space.
The householder will get their garden looked after for free and the gardener gets a free allotment in return. No money exchanges hands and either party can give six weeks notice at any time.
It is the case that many Islanders can no longer look after their gardens due to ill health or old age. Volunteers to assist with this growing problem are hard to come by, but ironically there is an increased interest in gardening amongst younger people, many of whom have small gardens or no gardens at all.
There is also a waiting list of over 250 people for Isle of Wight Council allotments. The Isle of Wight Council endorses the scheme and encourages anyone currently on the allotment waiting list to consider this innovative alternative.
“The scheme may have other add-on benefits. The gardener might keep an eye on the householder and report any welfare concerns to the authorities. New friendships might be developed between neighbours and across the generations…“ said Ray Harrington-Vail of the Footprint Trust, who are leading the project.
“The scheme could mean that some of the Island’s 3,000 uncared for gardens could be growing local food for local people… reducing food miles and encouraging healthy eating along with exercise through gardening activities. This fits very neatly with the Council’s Eco Island vision..’
To date very few would-be gardeners have contacted the project from Ventnor.
“I am sure that many young families who do not have a growing space would love to adopt someone else’s garden and share the produce….please contact us on 82-22-22. or email don(at)footprint-trust.co.uk ”
This pilot project will seek to match up 50 gardens with 50 gardeners over the next 14 months. The initiative will be expanded if extra funding can be accessed. To date the Isle of Wight Charitable Trust, The Footprint Trust and Anchor Staying Put have contributed to the project. The public can help by distributing promotional postcards and putting up posters in local shops, churches and schools.
Community, Green Issues, Island-wide
Email This Story To A Friend
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
This is a great idea and you held my interest until you had to spoil it with the “Eco-Island” mantra.
Why could you not have left it as a good idea, which it is?
Why does every good idea have to fit into this Eco sound bite, which is costing CT payers £400K?
April 28th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Eco-Island is a fantastic idea which seeks to give the Isle of Wight a green future rather than a grey one. The Footprint Trust welcomes this initiative and beleives it’s about time money was spent to protect the planet rather than harm it.
We will continue to remind the Council of its commitment to Eco-Island and point out if they go astray!
September 29th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Hi
I live in a flat North Tyneside and have often pondered the notion of asking owners of unkempt gardens I see on my dog-walking travels if I can go along and but their grass for them…but I figured they’d think I was a bit loopy so never plucked up the courage.
Then my beloved Dad died earlier this year and now my Mum struggles to keep up her garden…but I’m 200 miles away from her and it’s a long way to go with a mower. She cant afford a gardener and doesnt currently qualify for national garden scheme allowance.
I happened to hear about garden sharing on BBC2’s Jeremy Vine show a couple of weeks back - I’m not sure if it was your scheme but in any case I think it’s a bloody good idea. So I searched t’internet and hey presto…here I am asking about the hows and dos. Please furnish me with lots of information so that I may encourage Stoke on Trent City Council to develop a similar scheme for my Mum, as well as asking North Tyneside Council (which I also work for) to do the same…hence scoring me lots of brownie points.
Are the people who take on the gardens CRB checked or anything like that?
Who has overall responibilty for the management of the scheme?
I hope you’re able to help me.
Thanks
Claire
September 30th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Hi Claire - the best thing to do is get in touch with the Footprint Trust as they are owners of the scheme. Best of luck and happy gardening.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Adopt–A-Garden in your community
At the moment the Adopt-A-Garden scheme only operates on the Isle of Wight, UK.
We would suggest that before any more Adopt-A-Garden schemes are started that those interested read our report on our pilot scheme.
Our report will be published in June 2009 and will include details on how to set up a scheme along with all the forms and guidelines for those taking part.
Details of grant funding that could be available will also be provided.
The Footprint Trust will be in a position to offer guidance on how to set up a scheme based on our experience of running this project and our other community-based endeavours.
If your organisation might be interested in launching the scheme in your community than please email us - ray@footprint-trust.co.uk
http://www.footprint-trust.co.uk/adoptgarden.html
September 30th, 2008 at 11:24 am
This is what makes the blog great!
Claire posts at 11.19pm yesterday.
Ray’s response (with all the info she could need) goes up at 10.49 am today.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Brilliant!! Thanks for the info Ray, I’ll get our boys to do some digging (pardon the pun) and get onto Footprint Trust. Good luck, let’s hope it works.