In 2023 Vine formed a gardening club with residents from the Malachi project. (A pop up hostel in Ilford for previously homeless people run by the Salvation Army)
Our aim was to create a pollinator friendly garden which would also provide food to eat and colourful flowers.
We also wanted to create a place where Malachi residents could be welcomed and grow in well being themselves.
Several of the Malachi residents had previous experience of farming, carpentry and building, skills which were very useful in creating the garden.
Vine church offered the the newly formed Gardening club a piece of unloved land outside our Community house.
We got started! Fencing was put up, and a broken path was mended.
We were given some planters by the Council, and we also made some some ourselves from pallets.
We created a composting area as we wanted to look after the soil by feeding it with compost.
We planted seeds…
….which, in time, grew into vegetables and flowers.
In our second season (2024) we made bird boxes and bug hotels, as well as making 2 mini ponds, and of course, grew more vegetables and flowers.
We are now ready to start a new challenge. After a year when the builders were at work in Riches Road, we now have a new garden to create at the front of the church.
Here are some of the group ready to go!
We always end the session with tea and cake!
