Arts & Culture  News

Savona residents scoop grant for gardening packs

Sown from home Urban Canopy

Published on
February 24, 2021

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Residents of the Savona Estate in Nine Elms have been awarded a grant from the Wandsworth Grant Fund for their ‘Sown from Home’ project.

They will be provided materials and the knowledge to grow plants and vegetables at home, which will then be planted out in public locations across the Savona Estate under the guidance of knowledgeable members of staff.

The Covid-secure ‘Sown from Home’ project also aims to tackle lockdown loneliness and boredom experienced by young families and elderly residents in the estate.

The project will be delivered in partnership with Urban Canopy, who are experienced in running community and educational horticultural projects in public spaces. Previously, they have worked with neighbouring estates Carey Gardens and Patmore Estate by holding weekly gardening sessions and helping older residents with their gardens whilst improving communal green spaces in the area.

The hope is that enabling community and voluntary group participation in local green spaces will foster the growth of more communal gardening in future.

Urban Canopy plan to run workshops for residents about how to plant out their seedlings when the time is right so everyone can enjoy the fruits of their labour in the summer months.

As the seedlings need to grow in time for planting out workshops taking place in mid-April, leaflets have been delivered to every household on Savona Estate with further information on how to sign up and receive a free seed sowing pack so residents can get planting straight away.

Harry Goonewardene, Chair of Savona Residents Association said: “In collaboration with Urban Canopy, we applied for funding from the Wandsworth Grant Fund to enable Savona residents and their children to be occupied during the Covid-19 lockdown by creating an interest in gardening.

“Packs of seeds and seedlings will be provided to interested residents, alongside training by Urban Canopy, if necessary. We hope that this project will help lift the morale of families in these very challenging times.”

Residents who have applied will receive their packs via contact-free delivery this week.

The Wandsworth Grant Fund provides funding for a range of projects that support the arts and the environment and that help young people and other residents stay healthy and reach their potential.

The Fund currently has an additional emphasis on projects that help the borough’s Covid-19 recovery. The next application date is Monday 12 April. Visit the Wandsworth Council website to find out more.


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