Pennine View residents launch gardening club
Residents at Pennine View, our over 55s independent living scheme in Rochdale, have recently launched their own gardening club as part of the Sow the City initiative – an Enrichment Provider for the Working Well: Support to Succeed programme.
The programme offers nature-based, wildlife and gardening activities to those enrolled on the scheme. So far, they have been running gardening sessions at the Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester City Centre, activities at the Crossley Centre in Oldham, and Broadfield Park in the centre of Rochdale.
Toni Hodson Walsh, Scheme Manager at Regenda Homes, reached out to the Support to Succeed programme to see if they could start some sessions with the tenants at Pennine View and they were soon enrolled onto the scheme!
Since starting the sessions last week, residents have had the chance to learn about maintaining, growing and planting their own garden space as well as working with nature art, identifying different types of wildlife and learning about herbal remedies and simple cooking techniques.
Residents are hoping to soon start growing their own fruit, flowers and vegetables and have become really engaged in the programme. After gaining invaluable insights into seed sowing and how to sustain them, residents were able to sow their first batch of onions, turnips and green beans.
The club aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Pennine View residents in addition to reducing boredom and isolation. On top of this, the Sow the City social enterprise places specific focus on encouraging people in urban areas to connect with nature and championing the importance of green spaces in cities.
