Location:
Swansea
Funding amount:
EAFRD (WG RC_RDP Wales) contribution
£29750.00

Down to Earth is an award-winning social enterprise with a 15 year track record in supporting people to bring about positive change in their lives through meaningful outdoor activity.

Since 2005 Down to Earth has created 2 inspiring sites where they run award winning learning and well-being programmes.

In the spring of 2021 the project which is based in Murton, received a grant from the Swansea RDP LEADER funding stream of £29,750. The funding is to enable them to expand an existing small, traditional garden with additional growing spaces allowing increased food production and the introduction of the innovative 'forest garden' concept.  

The 'forest garden' approach is innovative because it aims to be biologically sustainable, able to cope with disturbances such as climate change, be productive, yielding a number (often large) of different products and require low maintenance.

Since its inception RDP LEADER funding has supported innovative projects and this project is no exception. It also sits perfectly with Swansea RDP's vision for a 'one planet' future.

Forest gardening is a way to grow food that mirrors nature, for example, by growing food at different layers like a woodland ecosystem. By creating a larger forest garden the project will create a growing space which is biologically sustainable, able to cope with disturbances such as climate change, will become more productive and require less maintenance. It will also increase ecological diversity and enhance habitat provision.

Through the development of the forest garden, the project is seeking to grow a strong community with local people from Bishopston and wider Gower and the asylum seeker and refugee community from across the county. This project supports access to the countryside for more disadvantaged groups as well as developing the links with neighbours to the site. 

RDP funding is being used to employ dedicated personnel to develop the forest garden planting scheme, and also provide opportunities of life-changing volunteering experiences aligned with a series of well-being programmes to those groups who are hardest to reach. The forest garden will provide a positive and welcoming green space.

Those working in the forest garden will be:

  • constructing a composting area, a new seating area and pond habitat
  • planting of new specimen trees and edible shrubs and expanding annual vegetable plots
  • propagating and planting herbaceous layers within forest garden
  • pruning and maintaining existing tree stocks to increase productivity, and working on hedge-line restoration
  • growing flowers for visual appeal and for attracting pollinators
  • developing sensory beds and a wildflower meadow
  • creating willow beds

Over the winter, participants and volunteers have being working hard, carrying out seasonal tasks and preparing for spring, which is now upon us. We hope to revisit the project later in the year to highlight the progress that has been made.

Chris Day, Community Gardener at Down to Earth states

"The Forest Garden project at Down to Earth in Murton is starting to blossom with several new trees planted and making good progress, developing the garden for even more people to enjoy. Our volunteers have been turning up in all kinds of weather over the winter, only missing a day when storm Eunice threatened to blow us all away. Looking forward to warmer spring weather ahead now!"

Currently the project runs weekly sessions with asylum seekers and each individual follows an eight-week programme. Activities include - caring for plants and trees, learning how-to put-up fencing, cutting back, watering plants, harvesting, stick making, carving, mallet making, and learning about fire. 

In addition, volunteer sessions carried out every other week on a Saturday and these are well attended and super productive.

volunteers working in the garden

Hear what some of the attendees have to say: 

Participant:

"I feel being here is good for me and helps me. I feel good being here, doing good to help others."

   
 Volunteer:

"I thank you all for accepting me. I have wasted my time with a lot of people who didn't understand the way I think and the concerns I have about the world we live in, and it was frustrating. Coming to Down to Earth, I feel like I have finally found my tribe."

Parent: "To hear how well he is getting on and how he is joining in with people, has given us a real boost and really bears testament to the service you are providing at Down to Earth. In the long term it would be amazing (and quite overwhelming) to see my son confident enough to talk to anyone without becoming anxious. All these boosts to his confidence will certainly help him on his journey and again I cannot thank you enough for all that you are doing for him and all the volunteers."

To find out more about the project visit https://downtoearthproject.org.uk/ or follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/downtoearthswansea.

Further project information:

Name:
Vicki Thomson
Telephone number:
01792 636992
Email project contact
Project website:
https://downtoearthproject.org.uk/
Social media: