A GREEN-FINGERED grandmother from Rugby who transformed the grounds of her local church hall into a community vegetable plot has now become a Community Champion in a bid to green up her neighbourhood.
Hillmorton resident Jill Dwyer has joined the Rugby Community Champion scheme, run by Garden Organic and Rugby Borough Council, which offers training and advice to residents about sustainable gardening, including how to grow food, compost, and prevent waste.
As well as running the Hillmorton Community Garden at Rogers Hall – where volunteers are growing herbs, beans, tomatoes and flowers organically – Jill now passes on her knowledge at coffee mornings, and organises seed and plant swaps.
Jill, who has been growing her own vegetables for 25 years, said: “I’ve never liked using harsh chemicals, and organic methods of gardening have always seemed so much healthier, simpler, and money saving than buying in a bottle of toxic spray.
“At the community garden we practice things like companion planting, mulching and crop rotation – and they’re not hard, but they do wonders to minimise pests naturally and improve the soil.
“I love to learn, so I jumped at the possibility of free training from Garden Organic. Being part of the project has helped us get more volunteers – and link up with other networks.
“It’s a massive highlight for me that, after people see what we do, they want to get involved. I think we all have a role to play as individuals to help the environment and pass on skills. Becoming a champion was a golden opportunity for me to make a contribution.”
The Community Champion project runs family fun days, children’s activities and workshops such as growing potatoes in containers – with more events being planned.
Garden Organic’s CEO Fiona Taylor said: “Our volunteers are central to showing people how to get started in helping nature to recover. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and they take part in training people up in gardening and composting skills in ways that are accessible to their communities.
“Partnership working is the best way to reach our local communities and, as a local organisation, we’re delighted to be doing so with Rugby Borough Council.”
Coun Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council’s spokesperson for partnerships and wellbeing, said: “The Community Champions project strengthens our partnership with Garden Organic and provides a great way to share knowledge and inspire our communities to nurture green spaces across the borough.
“Whether a home garden, allotment, community space or school garden, the Community Champions aim to inspire a new generation to garden sustainably and support biodiversity in the borough.”
The Community Champions will be hosting a community sow-and-grow event at Rugby Library on July 22. Visit https://tinyurl.com/y92w5tkc for more information.
Visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk/rugby-community-champions or email [email protected] for more information on the Rugby Community Champion scheme.
