New project launched to create community growing spaces in Coventry

The project will help bring communities together to grow their own fruit and veg



A project has been launched to create three new community growing spaces in Coventry. The spaces will be located in the city's most green-deprived areas.

Energy company E.ON has provided funding to Coventry City Council to create new community growing spaces called 'Coventry Grows'. A new group called 'Growing Together' has been set up by the project with a five-year lease to manage Stoke Heath Community Garden on two unused plots of land.

Charities Grapevine, Garden Organic, and Citizen, the project will provide training, equipment, and seeds to create the new gardens so the community can come together to access high-quality green spaces and grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Community growing spaces are said to have various benefits, including helping people maintain their physical and mental health, creating spaces for wildlife, allowing people to grow their own produce, enhancing connections within communities, and creating spaces for locals to enjoy.

Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, Councillor Jim O'Boyle, said: "This is a great project getting unused green areas brought back into use for the local community. A lot of hard work is ahead, but once established, these spaces and the produce grown on them will be a lovely asset for the local community and a great space for all to come together."

E'ON's Director of Cities and Heat Solutions, Natalie Keogh, added: "We’re delighted to fund this fantastic community initiative as part of our commitment to Coventry and the local community. Our strategic partnership is all about delivering sustainable solutions for Coventry and its people, and the Coventry Grows initiative will deliver just that, plus added benefits in terms of community engagement and wellbeing. We’re excited to see this venture take shape as the next project in our ongoing support for the city."

Looks like a publicity stunt to me?