Collecting the info
TTK is creating a list of outdoor volunteering opportunities in the borough, so that people can find somewhere near them where they can grow food in a community garden or look after nature in a conservation project, sharing skills while getting healthy exercise and meeting other people. Help us to build a complete picture (it might be a list, it might be a map, it could be both...) and help your green project to attract more volunteers and thrive, by emailing us as much of the the following information as you can provide:
- Name of project
- Address, with postcode if possible
- A sentence about your gardening project
- Volunteering days and times
- Website and/or Facebook page
- A contact email or phone number
See also
Growing Tips for nature-friendly gardening.
Local outdoor volunteering opportunities we have compiled so far.
Why do outdoor volunteering?
- You will meet nice people and probably learn something interesting.
- You will do something useful - anyone can and will see the results with a bit of guidance and patience.
- Fresh produce - herbs, vegetables, fruit - from a garden taste much better than produce from a shop, and come with less packaging!
- You will get exercise in the fresh air, good for your physical health.
- You will connect with nature and a local green space, good for your mental health and wellbeing:
- See Natural England’s review of the benefits and outcomes of approaches to green care for mental ill-health, summarised at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/connecting-with-nature-offers-a-new-approach-to-mental-health-care + a link to the full academic review - http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/4513819616346112.
- See Wellbeing secrets from the 2022 Chelsea flower show
- See How to cultivate wellbeing through gardening
- Community plots provide social benefits and can lessen supply shocks, supporters say.