Blooming partnership between Shape Housing Association and the
School of Horticulture, Norton Radstock College
28th October 2008
Residents at Shape Housing Association’s
Dartmouth Project in Bath for homeless single people and families
will benefit from a new garden that is being created for them with
help from Norton Radstock College.
The residents at the project came up with the initial ideas for
a garden that will complement their temporary home. They wanted a
place where their children could have some fun, for people to mix,
and with a peaceful corner to provide some solace.
Back (left to right): Mark Craddock, Daniel
Lanfear, Kevin Connell (Senior Tutor at Norton Radstock College),
Daniel Fosh, Darren Hickling, Rob Campbell (a Supported Housing
Officer at Shape Housing Association), Jason Wilson and Luke
Raikes
Front (left to right): Heather Jones and Amy Milverton
The School of Horticulture at Norton Radstock College was
delighted to form the partnership as an ongoing project for their
students’ course work.
Somer Community Housing Trust, another member of Somer Housing
Group, helped by producing a landscape design and planting
programme.
The phased project will continue to develop and grow over three
years as new students join the college.
Rob Campbell, a Supported Housing Officer at Shape Housing
Association, said:
‘The project, which has incorporated many
ideas put forward by residents has been designed to allow people to
interact with the garden in many ways. Fruit trees will be planted
so that residents (especially the children) will be able to pick
fruit, and to encourage birds, bees and butterflies to use the
garden.
‘Plant boxes will be available to allow people to grow herbs, and
there will be spaces for socialising, contemplation and play. We
live in very uncertain times, when many more people are at risk of
homelessness. Everyone using our services deserves the support and
understanding they receive and we are very grateful to Norton
Radstock College for their support.’
Kevin Connell, Senior Tutor at Norton Radstock College,
said:
‘We have a policy of working within the
communities that we serve and we are delighted to form this
partnership with Shape’s Dartmouth Project. This will allow our
mature, experienced students to demonstrate what they have learned,
and the residents will get to really enjoy a garden which has been
created from their ideas.’