An allotment is geared up for winter with a garden shed to keep tools dry and safe, thanks to a grant from recycling contractor Veolia. The grant also enabled the installation of a water butt, to collect water off the shed roof for use in the garden.
Residents at Old Hall Lilleshall, run by Old Ben Homes, grow a variety of fruit and vegetables on the plot including tomatoes, marrows and onions. Old Ben Homes is a charity which provides sheltered accommodation for people who have worked in newspaper distribution.
The charity was one of last year’s recipients of EnviroGrant funding, a grant scheme run by Veolia and Telford & Wrekin Council, which supports projects that benefit the local community or environment. The grant is part of the added value brought to the borough through the waste contract with Veolia.
Resident Michael Skinner said: “The shed is great addition to our allotments - it gives us somewhere to keep the tool protected and secure, which will help maintain them for longer. We can also store some of produce in there - this year we harvested beans, courgettes, and grapes amongst other things.
“The community here benefit as we share the produce with residents, it’s a nice way to bring us together. The water butt means we can work with nature to have less of an impact on the environment.”
The next closing date for EnviroGrant applications is 31st January 2019. There are grants of up to £1000 for projects that benefit the community or environment, as well as a specific grant of up to £500 for sports groups. For further information contact Ruth Jones at [email protected] or 07824 545 597.