Following identifying a lack of joined up action with green, growing, nature projects and related activities in Weston super Mare, Grow Feral set out to make connections to initiate a local partnership network, with the aim of developing a supportive network for present and future activities and the longer term sustainability for all.
This development work was funded by a Green Social Prescribing Development Grant from The West of England Nature Partnership in Partnership with Healthier with Nature, and a Community Rail Development Fund, with input from the Bristol Food Network.
The findings, and full report of this work can be seen HERE.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Small green spaces and gardens across the town
Food growing projects and spaces - project leaders/workers
Green, nature and well-being projects and activities
Related community groups and organisations - independent
Local stakeholders; i.e. council and larger nature organisations
Food-based groups and organisations
Local signposting services (i.e. green social prescribers)
KEY ACTIVITES
During the initial stages of this development work, we identified key groups in WsM and made connections with them, engaging in conversations around what would be helpful for people and how we might work together. We also wanted to see what other projects were doing and how they were doing it, to learn from each other's work.
Cardiff Salad Garden Day Trip
Cardiff Salad Garden is is a CIC; a not-for-profit social enterprise combining growing and selling fresh cut salad leaves with working to promote positive mental health through growing. They grow a range of salad leaves all year round for continuous harvesting. These mixed baby leaf salads are picked to order, high quality, and unique, and are available for household delivery and wholesale customers in Cardiff. They deliver the salad on their electric bicycle and are proud to be a truly sustainable business. Over ten people who are involved in local community growing projects in WsM attended the trip.
Grow Weston Get Together (networking event)
This session was an opportunity for people from these groups to connect, share ideas, priorities, and possibilities for a joined-up green growing future in WsM. Over twenty people attended from various groups across the town.
We heard from different Weston groups in the town, as well as hearing about how to develop a successful network from guest facilitator Gemma from Bristol Food Network who “support, inform and connect individuals, community projects, organisations and businesses who share a vision to transform Bristol into a sustainable food city”.
Vegan food was provided to share at the end of the session from the Welcome Meals Kitchen project at Refugees Welcome North Somerset.
Grow Weston interactive map of allotments and growing projects in Weston super Mare - available to view online and add your project to HERE
