FOR millions of people across Britain, gardening is the ideal way to unwind. Whether it’s flowers or food, there’s an immense satisfaction to be gained from growing your own produce.Tameside, Oldham and Glossop (Tog) Mind have two allotments, or as they prefer to call them, kitchen gardens. Both are in Hyde – one at Grange Road South and the other at Baron Road. Both supply fruit and vegetables which are used in the award-winning Topaz Café on Old Street, Ashton.
They are an example of the success Tameside Council is enjoying with its commitment to Get Tameside Growing – one of its 16 for 2016 pledges which promises to work with the community to get people to produce their own food.
Kitchen Garden Grange Road South, is open Monday to Friday (9am to 3pm) and is for adults with learning disabilities. As well as horticulture, participants can enjoy woodwork, cooking, arts and crafts, and regular days out. Most clients are referred by their social workers but individuals are welcome.
The Baron Road kitchen garden runs on Wednesdays (11am to 4pm) and is a free open drop-in session. No gardening experience is necessary at either site.
Tog Mind’s allotments and gardening manager, Clare Walker, said: “The kitchen gardens are a real asset to Tog Mind and are an integral part of the many services we offer.
“Both are very popular and very successful and because of that we will soon be opening a new Thursday service at the Market Garden in Hattersley.”
Cllr Brenda Warrington, Tameside Council’s executive member for adult social care and wellbeing, added: “I’m extremely impressed by what Tog Mind have achieved with their kitchen gardens which are a great example of the kind of work we want to encourage through our Get Tameside Growing pledge.
“Not only do the allotments provide relaxation and activities for a great many people, they produce fruit and vegetables for the Topaz Café and get the people of Tameside growing. It’s a real win-win situation.”
