Community spirit blossoms in Mowbray Park

Funded with the support of £180,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the project has transformed an underused corner of Mowbray Park into a creative, active and vibrant growing space for the whole community to share and enjoy.

The Mowbray Park Community Garden was set up with the aim of creating a space where the whole community can come together to learn new skills, spend time in nature and make connections.

Since work got underway in June, a number of edible crops, including strawberries, have already been harvested after being grown from seed with the help of community volunteers and local schoolchildren.

The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Allison Chisnall, who cut the ribbon officially opening the garden, said: "It was wonderful to hear all about this amazing community project and how it's flourishing, and a real treat to have the children from Hudson Road Primary School there singing their harvest festival songs.

"They played their own special role in creating the garden by donating wild flower seeds at the very beginning of the project."

Councillor Beth Jones said: "This is all about bringing local people together at the same time as increasing pride in the city centre and a space that can support people's health and wellbeing.

"Local people have been involved in the community garden right from the start, from helping to shape its design to having a say in the plants they wanted to see growing there. 

"So it's very much a garden which has been created for the community by the community, with the help of skilled community development workers who have worked on similar projects in the past.

There are lots of ways for people to get involved with the garden whether or not they enjoy gardening or have any experience. Regular drop-in sessions are held every Tuesday 10am to 12pm for people of all ages and abilities.

There are also activities during the school holidays and an upcoming community art programme which will create art that will be installed and displayed in the garden.

To find out more about Mowbray Park Community Garden and get involved visit: www.mysunderland.co.uk/MowbrayCommunityGarden