Two community food-growing projects supported through Bury's Right to Grow programme are celebrating success after receiving prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom "It's Your Neighbourhood" awards.
Belmont Road Community Garden, managed by Incredible Edible Radcliffe, has achieved a Level 5 "Outstanding" award for the second consecutive year. Transforming a piece of scrubland into a thriving community asset, the garden has become a valued green space that benefits both local residents and the wider neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, the group's newest project, Abingdon Green Community Garden, received a Level 4 "Thriving" award, finishing just one point short of full marks only six months after being established. Despite some early challenges, volunteers and partners worked together to create a vibrant community growing space that has already made a significant impact.
Projects such as these provide opportunities for people to grow fresh produce, improve physical and mental wellbeing, build new friendships and reduce social isolation. They also demonstrate the positive impact of community-led food growing and support the ambitions of Bury's Right to Grow programme.
Abingdon Green is particularly noteworthy as an example of how community food growing can succeed within a social housing setting, creating stronger communities and offering a model that could be replicated across other neighbourhoods in Bury and beyond.
Congratulations to all the volunteers, residents and partner organisations whose dedication and hard work have made these achievements possible. Their efforts continue to help create greener, healthier and more connected communities.
