Grozone is a thriving community garden, wildlife and horticultural therapy project.
A real hidden oasis, the garden provides volunteering opportunities for all, as well as offering social and horticultural therapy for people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
Visitors can learn a variety of new skills as well sharing and developing existing ones, all in a welcoming, calming and social outdoor environment.
The garden is open to everyone from 10am-3pm Monday to Saturday and you’ll be more than welcome if you simply fancy popping down to have a look round, meet the team and explore the beautiful working garden.
Grozone as a concept first came about in 2008 when Danefield Nurseries, which had sat derelict for 18 years, was explored as a potential site for some form of Community run garden.
Following an initial consultation process, a Community Design Event took place, allowing people to put their ideas and designs forward for how the garden would look.
Planning permission was then granted, allowing a grand-scale tidy up to begin in earnest.
Pupils from Victoria Road Primary School were asked to work on a special design feature, and they came up with the now iconic totem pole which is one of the most recognisable features of the garden.
The project had great success initially which was built upon in November 2010 when Grozone was awarded £48,000 in funding by the People’s Millions, giving the scheme a vital boost.
Even better news followed in December 2013 when the BIG Lottery Fund awarded the project 2 years funding totalling £198,243.
This meant that Grozone was able to expand its team and open six days a week, increasing the opportunities for local people to get involved in volunteering, and allowing the project to benefit more people than ever before.
If you’d like to learn more, please visit the official Grozone website by clicking HERE.
And for a full list of upcoming events which take place on a weekly basis, please check out the specific section on Grozone’s website by clicking ‘Events’ on the site’s main toolbar.
