Community Food Growing at Bedfords Park

The environment

Our increase of fruit bushes with flowers have brought more pollinators into the garden and helped our domestic bees from our hive. The bees , of course have then helped our crops yield.

Volunteering, jobs & education

We are delighted to report that we have been joined by a 16 year old volunteer school leaver who wished to pursue a career in horticulture. He has been a great help in the garden and indeed helped us move ad plant fruit bushes for our new fruit cages. After receiving advice from our Senior Volunteer, he joined Capel Manor College in Enfield, and has since worked over 2 years on 2 Horticultural courses. During that time he has been volunteering with us every week. He has now recently been on a months Work Experience at Great Dixter garden in Sussex and has applied for a Professional Gardener's Apprenticeship Scheme. He has been accepted and his first year's post is at the Royal Sandringham Estate ! We are so proud of him, and the part we have played to see him well on to the road to a career in Professional Horticulture. We have had escorted visits from Reception Class children from a l.ocal school, Groups of Clubs, and Beavers and Brownies. Also groups from U3A,, Rotarians and .Trefoil groups.

Arts, culture & heritage

Several of our volunteers have been learning about the history of the garden, our Park and the area of Havering-atte-Bower. Two of our Volunteers give tours and talks on our Walled Garden and the rich history of the Garden and the part it has played for 230 years. We have a resident artist who comes in to paint 'en plein air'. Our Senior volunteer has written a 45 page booklet, numerous documents, 4 stories, painted 4 silk flags and taken part in a large local Land of the FANNS project, surveying for Statements of Significance within the Park. and appeared in a video about the Garden and the history of Horticulture in this area. She has also given several talks to various clubs and societies.

Activity, health and leisure

Gardening is an outdoor activity. It can also be quite demanding. We aim to give volunteers the opportunity to not only learn about growing healthy food, but also keep fit, moving and supple by working in the garden- in all weathers too! During Covid we were allowed to stay open for volunteers and abided by the regulations. We saw that a large percentage of our volunteers are living on their own and welcomed coming out for social interaction - albeit at a distance. It helped them with confidence and mental health and well being.