Community Gardening in Hillfields

So I got involved with the community garden, um, a few years ago and um I, at first I kind of just wanted to get involved because it sounded like a really cool way just to, um, I guess be outside and um be part of something in the community and help to um develop um an area in my local park into, you know, like a. A space for people to connect with nature, um, and to come together. Um, and it's been, yeah, it's been really lovely to be part of a project that's kind of grown, um, and that has people leading it who are really inspiring and inspired, um, and committed to the community. I think it's important that if people can, that they try and give back and take part in activities in the community

Uh, personally, um, because I combine fitness with that. Um, I get, if you like, uh, a double buzz. Um, I, I get the, the endorphin rush from going for a nice long jog somewhere

Um, and also the, the really nice feeling from helping out, sometimes you find out the groups that perhaps they wouldn't be able to achieve certain, um, projects to get completed or or. Certainly there there are other things that they might do to help the wider community and they need an extra pair of hands. So it's very nice to be able to go in and help and you really feel like you're making a difference

Um, it may not be life and death things, but you know, every little helps, I think, chipping away, um. Fostering a sense of community and it just feels really nice just to get involved, and, you know, you often get a nice cup of tea as well. So for me, being involved in this community garden means a lot because it is the thing that makes me feel like our area is uh a community place, a place where people know each other, help each other, achieve things together

Um, I feel like nowadays in England, it's very important for the different people to be able to do things together, to have activities for children and young people. And this um place, this community garden and this youth centre here are going to be exactly the things that will provide this for us. Um, it's a big joy for me to come to all the volunteer events, all the Um, special big, uh, celebrations that the community garden organises, um, I'm putting my work into it, but I'm very much enjoying it and feeling like I'm making new friends, um, I'm changing my area for the better, um, we are being creative, we, we have ideas and we actually make them happen

Uh, it's extremely exciting and fulfilling..