Ashley Ball visits three community gardens in Barnsley to tell their own unique stories.
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Autism Allotment
IN less than six months a rundown fly-tipping wasteland has been transformed into a place where everyone can get involved in gardening.
The brainchild of relentless campaigning duo, Paul and Michael Atwal-Brice, the change has been remarkable.
The couple’s two oldest boys, Levi and Lucas, have autism as well as epilepsy and the challenges they have faced as a family has triggered their crusade for change.
The Autism Allotments in Thurnscoe is the latest project they have visualised and it is likely the biggest.
They have not done it alone and have a band of eager volunteers to thank for helping out regularly.
Funding has also been secured from various companies and organisations to achieve the stunning end result in double quick time.
So how does their allotment benefit people with autism?
Michael explains: “They benefit from the sensory beds – autistic people are hypersensitive so we have a bed for touch, smell, feel and sight.
“They really benefit from them. We have different sensory areas around the allotment to engage and let people with autism and different disabilities enjoy the facilities.
“All the raised beds are fully accessible for people in wheelchairs.
“It is not a typical allotment and we have specialist play equipment to cater for people with disabilities. It’s all accessible.
“We really had to start from scratch. There was 30 tonnes of fly-tipping and it was overgrown with brambles. It was a case of ripping everything out and getting to a blank canvas.”
There are further plans to transform another two plots into an accessible allotment and wildflower planting nearby helps with biodiversity.
As well as eight planters, a greenhouse and clubhouse, there is also specialist play equipment and areas to relax which undoubtedly gives parents and carers a welcome break whilst the planting itself is explored.
Flowers grow readily all over the plot and there is visual interest on all the fencing as well as the blooming beds.
It is already hosting children from specialist schools, local colleges and even NHS referrals.
It has been praised by a host of dignitaries who have been shown around.
Michael calls it a ‘real community project’ and one of the volunteers, Alex Gates, agrees.
She is more than happy to get into a tomato outfit to welcome visitors.
She said: “I like doing the watering job and letting people in and showing them around.
“The children love it and we do planting and watering with them.”
Birkwood Primary School
A trio of ten year olds prove to be just as adept at showing me around as they are growing and nurturing what is in the school’s garden.
James Stables, Mollie Cunningham and Harper Webb eagerly took me on a tour of the garden and polytunnel they help manage behind the back of their school.
It is clear from their enthusiasm that the gardening they do as part of their curriculum is easily among their favourite lessons and they are getting a lot out of it.
The Birkwood children are learning how to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, but they are also well aware of why it is important to do so.
It really is a team effort at this school with Heather Greenwood overseeing more than 300 of the kids who contribute to the garden in their lessons as well as in two after-school gardening clubs.
She said: “The children are really enthusiastic about the garden and for caring for the environment as well.
“They are also learning about food and where it comes from. We can eat and sell the produce if there is a glut of it.”
The school’s garden is approaching its tenth birthday with an old pond transformed into the space which also contains many habitats for wildlife.
Should youngsters not come from a home with a garden it’s a perfect place to kick-start an interest and opens a door which was previously closed.
Others go home full of ideas of how they can contribute to the family garden.
“We are hoping that we will have inspired lots of children to carry on gardening after they leave school,” added Heather.
“We have got fruit, flowers and vegetables growing as well as a sensory garden and herbs too. It’s all about making sure that they have got a lot to inspire them and touch, smell and eat.”
Each class has their own raised bed to maintain which no doubts sows the seeds of the competitive gardener in each of them.
The youngsters also enjoy seeing the signs of wildlife and being reassured that they are contributing to the local ecosystem.
The green shoots of mini gardeners appearing at Birkwood is down to Heather and the school’s commitment but sadly they are one of just a handful of local schools with a project like this ongoing.
There are hopes other schools will visit in the future and leave inspired. I certainly did.
The residents of Ardsley Mews
NOBODY quite does teamwork like the residents of Ardsley Mews.
It is an unusual set-up but it’s one that is working spectacularly.
The front of most of the residents’ houses, which were once farm buildings before converted in the 1980s, face into a communal garden courtyard.
There are 16 houses in total with most of the residents actively contributing to the green space.
It has ensured all the neighbours know each other pretty well and they have bonded through gardening.
For the most part, the neighbours are retired and seem to have a great social lifestyle with the garden at the centre of it.
Brian Sanderson has the reluctant title of ‘head gardener’ but is modest about it.
He said: “Anybody who walks through the gates for the first time says ‘I didn’t know this was here’.
“I’m the labourer mainly. We work together but it often leads to us all having a beer.”
Chrissy Kyte and Kerry Williams both believe it’s a great place to live.
Chrissy said: “The seating area is new this year. We had a lot of large hedges taken out to give us some more space.
“It is well used. We sit there in the evenings and have a glass of wine. We are very lucky.
“We like having the colour of the flowers but also flowers for pollinators.
“Everybody is individual and like different things but I think it all blends seamlessly into one another.”
Kerry added: “We have lived here for two years and we feel like we have known everybody for years. We absolutely love it here.
“Everybody is so friendly and helps each other. It’s a little paradise.
“We enjoy it when everybody comes out. It’s almost like you’re on holiday.”
What has been created really is idyllic and it is hard to imagine there is a better front garden anywhere in Barnsley.
It’s a great place to relax when the sun is shining and I’m assured it’s just as good at Christmas with tasteful lighting and a scene which looks like one of yesteryear.
As well as two well stocked beds, with a focus on attracting pollinators, there is a lawn you could practice your putting on. Victorian-style streetlights compliment the scene even further.
A communal herb bed, which anyone can dip into ahead of cooking, just adds to the strong community vibe.
What is tangible is that in an age where people don’t always know who lives next door or anything about their lives, gardening has ensured these residents are the exception.
