The MyPlace Greenhouse Project in Blackburn would like to renovate the long redundant greenhouses as a learning, wellbeing and community hub
The Greenhouse Project at Witton Park in Blackburn would see the long redundant greenhouses renovated as a growing, learning, wellbeing and community hub.
Our project desperately needs space for:
•Volunteers to produce seasonal food to take home and cook so that they are eating healthily
•Workshops to help people to grow in their own spaces at home.
•Local organisations to work with people at risk of food poverty will encourage wider growing
•Cooking sessions that will demonstrate how to use the food produced, providing a much needed healthy meal for all those taking part.
•A diverse range of people from different cultures to share recipes and stories. The greenhouses will grow plants more used to warmer climates and used in meals from the diverse cultures represented in the town.
•Space for outdoor beds as well as fruit bushes and trees.
•A growing enterprise that can support other organisations, colleges, schools and companies.
•Talks on wildlife and food growing, and traditional craft workshops.
•A relaxing seated area that will encourage social activity and building friendships.
The unused derelict greenhouses at Witton Park, Blackburn are a huge untapped resource in the town; a great potential source of locally grown food and plants, as well as a much needed social hub for bringing community together to facilitate active lifestyles, learning, creative expression and cohesion.
However we cant use the Greenhouses until the asbestos is removed and the structures have been made safe. One Greenhouse will cost £10,000. All 5 will cost £48,000.
Blackburn has seen an increase in food poverty. More and more people are receiving food parcels and living on diets poor in nutritional value. Blackburn Food Resilience Alliance lead by Counsellor Jackie Floyd, is seeking to stimulate food growing across the borough.
Our town is suffering from huge health problems, both physical and mental. Our extensive experience with our MyPlace project has demonstrated that growing food, nurturing plants and accessing green spaces has massive benefits for physical and mental health. There is a growing recognition that outdoor activities in the natural world are something that a wide range of people are able to access irrespective of age, social class, race or gender - activities even more vital when indoor activities may not be safe. Having secured funds for officer time to support people we now need to create a safe and welcoming place.
Our vision for the Borough is for a strong, cohesive and prosperous community where everyone is active, thriving and treated fairly, where people’s faith and cultures are understood and respected. Our activity will address community segregation, reduce social exclusion, and value and embrace our diversity, enriching all of our lives by developing meaningful relationships.
This project successfully funded on 15th March 2021