Are you proud of your front garden? Are the gardens in your street bursting with colour and interest? Perhaps you have a local community gardening group who works wonders on shared areas of land. If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Cultivation Street is definitely for you.
Founded by TV gardener and presenter David Domoney, Cultivation Street is a garden competition that recognises and rewards communities that are caring for their streets, as well as encouraging other communities to join together and inspire them to start gardening. It was originally conceived as a front garden campaign, but soon expanded to include community gardening projects, neighbourhood schemes and school gardens.
I love the principle behind this campaign; encouraging communities to build bonds, learn new skills and enhance their local area is such a great idea. It’s not all about creating beautiful gardens; it’s also a feel-good journey.
If you’re a resident with a front garden, a member of a community or neighbourhood gardening group, or a school garden representative, you can enter the competition. There are National Gardening Gift Voucher prizes in various categories worth a total £20,000, with the overall winner’s prize worth £10,000 – well worth an entry, don’t you think?
For more information and details on how to enter visit the Cultivation Street website. The closing date is 2nd August. Will you be entering?
The garden featured in the Cultivation Street article is Stanford and Cleveland Community garden in Brighton, East Sussex.
The garden was created when the council decided to narrow Cleveland Road, Brighton, East Sussex and then asked the local residents what they wanted to do with the space . We opted for a garden instead of a tarmac pavement! The garden was built by Brighton Up Your Garden and the compost was provided by the Brighton and Hove composting Co-operative. We also received a grant from the Brighton and Hove Food partnership to fund our first year. We are now totally self-funding and have had several fund raising events during the year. Our latest being a Harvest Tea Party which was very enjoyable with great food using some of the produce from the garden.
There is also a triangular plot for shrubs, herbs, annuals and wildflowers which attracts lots of bees and insects. The mosaic sign was designed and donated by Clare Rose a local mosaic and textile artist. I have been attending her mosaic classes and the sign was made by Clare Rose , Debbie Pryer (me) and Penny Sands. It has helped to enhance the garden and has been much admired.
We have enjoyed entering the Cultivation Street competition and have been shortlisted twice . We won the Community garden category in Brighton and Hove City in bloom last year and this year we were were joint winners with the Secret Garden Hove.
The garden has helped to foster a sense of community spirit and pride and has really enhanced the local area, as well as providing lovely fresh vegetables and flowers! It’s a great way to meet new friends and enjoy the fresh air.
Community gardening is such a fantastic thing and you’ve achieved so much in a space that would otherwise be lifeless – no wonder you’re all proud!
Thanks for your reply- yes we are all proud!