Food, glorious home grown food
Do you want to get involved in growing your own food? This is National Allotments Week and there are lots of opportunities to get involved across Gateshead.
National Allotments Week encourages allotment holders to highlight the social, health and environmental benefits of UK allotments.
This year the week, which runs until Sunday 18 August, focuses on biodiversity to highlight the environmental benefits of allotments.
Allotments are acknowledged by Natural England as an important part of the UK 'Green Infrastructure' - a network of crucial green spaces that support wildlife, improve air quality, promote health and mitigate carbon emissions.
Nikki Dravers, food programme lead for Gateshead Council said: "Organisations and individuals interested in working together to encourage food growing in Gateshead gathered in Bensham earlier this summer.
"We had lots of lively discussion and networking, sharing of resources and ideas. Many shared the same feeling that food growing helps improve health and wellbeing, gives people pride, confidence, and peace. It also is essential for enhancing biodiversity and our environment."
Alison Dunn, Service Director for Community, Health and Wellbeing said: "Increasing connections between people and plants is good for mental health, helping people understand the value of nature, waste less, and save money. We're pleased to support any initiative that promotes food growing, for people and for our planet."
Gateshead Food Partnership has recently given out small grant funding to organisations trying something new to tackle food insecurity beyond giving out food parcels.
This included projects setting up gardens, allotments, and raised beds alongside their food provision services, to help communities connect with their food, taste fruit and vegetables that they haven't tried before, and learn to grow their own food.
The funded projects involved with food growing include:
- Christ Church Felling
- The Comfrey Project
- Skills 4 Work Gateshead ltd
- Edberts House and the HOPE network
- Chopwell Regeneration CIO/The Bank Chopwell
- Birtley East Community Primary school
- The Hop Garden, High Spen
- HerbHub Bensham Grove Community Project
- Shipley Art Gallery
- Dunston Heritage and Craft Centre CIC
- The Sandown Allotment Association
Another new project locally is a community gardening session organised by Edbert's House in Pelaw starting this week - meeting every Monday from 1.30 - 3.30pm at The Lawnmowers on Shields Road, Pelaw, NE10 0QD.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has been supporting new growing projects in Gateshead too, including Bensham Grove Community Centre, Bensham Court growing space, and a newly forming partnership of organisations in Bensham sharing skills and ideas.
Meanwhile our allotments officer Colette Davies is actively managing our allotment sites, and trying to ensure all our plots are properly used - or passed on to new growers.
- reducing overall waiting lists by sub-dividing vacant plots, smaller plots are easier to manage and people tend to use the space they have wisely
- managing allotments in a consistent, proactive way - plots are now inspected regularly, to ensure tenants are using their plot for the correct purpose
- introducing minimum standards for quality of fencing / structures
- providing guidance on roles, responsibilities and expectations
- encouraging directly managed allotments to form allotment associations
Colette is continually contacting applicants waiting for a plot to ensure that they still want to be on the list and that we have their up-to-date contact details, to enable the easy allocation of any vacant plots.
The council has also started to ask for proof of occupancy to ensure that our allotments are only being allocated to Gateshead residents who are entitled to them, and use them correctly.
People can call 0191 433 8480 and request a paper application form or email allotments@gateshead.gov.uk to request an electronic copy.
Visit allotments for details on how to apply. We now have a new interactive map to assist new applicants with their choice.
Harry James, Northern National Allotment Society Representative says "We are excited to be celebrating the 22nd National Allotment Week. All are welcome to get involved, pop along for a chat and learn about growing. Our allotments are amazing places that teach people about looking after plants. They encourage healthy living and provide an important biodiverse habitat for wildlife and pollinators".
Find our more about National Allotments Society.
A food growing working group is in its infancy, with ambition for things like organising an allotment celebration in 2025. We welcome anyone interested in getting involved - contact us at FoodPartnership@Gateshead.Gov.Uk
Do you want to get involved in growing your own food? This is National Allotments Week and there are lots of opportunities to get involved across Gateshead.
National Allotments Week encourages allotment holders to highlight the social, health and environmental benefits of UK allotments.
This year the week, which runs until Sunday 18 August, focuses on biodiversity to highlight the environmental benefits of allotments.
Allotments are acknowledged by Natural England as an important part of the UK 'Green Infrastructure' - a network of crucial green spaces that support wildlife, improve air quality, promote health and mitigate carbon emissions.
Nikki Dravers, food programme lead for Gateshead Council said: "Organisations and individuals interested in working together to encourage food growing in Gateshead gathered in Bensham earlier this summer.
"We had lots of lively discussion and networking, sharing of resources and ideas. Many shared the same feeling that food growing helps improve health and wellbeing, gives people pride, confidence, and peace. It also is essential for enhancing biodiversity and our environment."
Alison Dunn, Service Director for Community, Health and Wellbeing said: "Increasing connections between people and plants is good for mental health, helping people understand the value of nature, waste less, and save money. We're pleased to support any initiative that promotes food growing, for people and for our planet."
Gateshead Food Partnership has recently given out small grant funding to organisations trying something new to tackle food insecurity beyond giving out food parcels.
This included projects setting up gardens, allotments, and raised beds alongside their food provision services, to help communities connect with their food, taste fruit and vegetables that they haven't tried before, and learn to grow their own food.
The funded projects involved with food growing include:
- Christ Church Felling
- The Comfrey Project
- Skills 4 Work Gateshead ltd
- Edberts House and the HOPE network
- Chopwell Regeneration CIO/The Bank Chopwell
- Birtley East Community Primary school
- The Hop Garden, High Spen
- HerbHub Bensham Grove Community Project
- Shipley Art Gallery
- Dunston Heritage and Craft Centre CIC
- The Sandown Allotment Association
Another new project locally is a community gardening session organised by Edbert's House in Pelaw starting this week - meeting every Monday from 1.30 - 3.30pm at The Lawnmowers on Shields Road, Pelaw, NE10 0QD.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has been supporting new growing projects in Gateshead too, including Bensham Grove Community Centre, Bensham Court growing space, and a newly forming partnership of organisations in Bensham sharing skills and ideas.
Meanwhile our allotments officer Colette Davies is actively managing our allotment sites, and trying to ensure all our plots are properly used - or passed on to new growers.
- reducing overall waiting lists by sub-dividing vacant plots, smaller plots are easier to manage and people tend to use the space they have wisely
- managing allotments in a consistent, proactive way - plots are now inspected regularly, to ensure tenants are using their plot for the correct purpose
- introducing minimum standards for quality of fencing / structures
- providing guidance on roles, responsibilities and expectations
- encouraging directly managed allotments to form allotment associations
Colette is continually contacting applicants waiting for a plot to ensure that they still want to be on the list and that we have their up-to-date contact details, to enable the easy allocation of any vacant plots.
The council has also started to ask for proof of occupancy to ensure that our allotments are only being allocated to Gateshead residents who are entitled to them, and use them correctly.
People can call 0191 433 8480 and request a paper application form or email allotments@gateshead.gov.uk to request an electronic copy.
Visit allotments for details on how to apply. We now have a new interactive map to assist new applicants with their choice.
Harry James, Northern National Allotment Society Representative says "We are excited to be celebrating the 22nd National Allotment Week. All are welcome to get involved, pop along for a chat and learn about growing. Our allotments are amazing places that teach people about looking after plants. They encourage healthy living and provide an important biodiverse habitat for wildlife and pollinators".
Find our more about National Allotments Society.
A food growing working group is in its infancy, with ambition for things like organising an allotment celebration in 2025. We welcome anyone interested in getting involved - contact us at FoodPartnership@Gateshead.Gov.Uk
