There are new growing spaces available to residents in the Milford who are interested in trying to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
South Somerset District Council’s Health Inequalities team and Horticultural Services have recently been working together with Milford Community Association to complete further developments to their already well used and exciting community garden programme at St.Marks Church, Yeovil.
The new developments which include a large green house, a Poly tunnel, herb educations patch, new access paths and steps, an edible flower bed and new raised beds will give further opportunities to local residents for all year growing. The community garden is a great opportunity for local residents to come along and try growing, cooking and storing their own vegetables, fruits, herbs and other garden produce.
The garden contains community group and individual growing beds, communal orchard, herb garden and tools for local neighbourhood residents to come and use.
The project is part of a campaign called Yeovil – grow, cook, eat; to help promote more people in the local area to learn how to grow their own foods, helping to improve local residents both economically and with their own health and well-being.
The land was offered to Milford Community Association 2 years ago on a licence agreement option from St.Marks Church to be used for a community project – it was from here that the idea of a community garden evolved.
The Health Inequalities Project Manager, James Divall, helps to support communities to action projects in order to tackle health, social and economic inequalities in South Somerset.
Councillor Peter Gubbins who is a ward member for Yeovil Central where the project has been developed has put some of his County Councillor Grant into the project, believing that the project will benefit many residents in the area. He said, “The community garden has so far been a great success and completing phase two further enhances and builds on the great work already done.
“I decided to give funding to the project because I believed it’s a great cause and will benefit Yeovil residents by helping them to grow, cook and eat their own foods.”
Councillor Tony Fife, Area South Chairman added, “The community garden helps to bring the local Milford community together. The additional work that has been done has increased the size of the garden so that more residents can enjoy the site and facilities all year round.”