Our sheltered housing residents enjoy the fruits of their labour

“The residents really enjoy coming here and harvesting their favourite organically grown vegetables”

— Rita Anderson, Mayfield resident

During the pandemic, many of our sheltered housing residents felt cut off from their family and friends. The usual programme of social activities was put on hold, and restrictions meant they couldn’t visit friends in neighbouring flats.

When the rules changed to allow mixing outdoors, Karen, our Green Spaces Manager, set about creating a kitchen garden at our Mayfield scheme, transforming the underused courtyard area into colourful and peaceful outdoor space for residents to sit and enjoy, or to pick fresh fruit and vegetables and swap recipe ideas.

Working with the residents and volunteers from our Community Allotment and the Probation Community Service team, the project was finished in record time.

A full programme of garden-related activities is now available to residents, including a monthly garden club and craft activities. There are also plans to plant a fruit orchard – watch this space!