The market garden area at the centre had become overgrown and dilapidated during the Pandemic Lockdowns, and the Ideal for All team lacked the resources to bring this back to its former glory and to a state where it might again be self-funding.
After various discussions, CRL, in collaboration with our supply chain and the garden’s management decided that the most could be gained for the charity by rejuvenating a ‘wellbeing centre’ at their market garden near to our sites at Oldbury (P65 and P78). This fully accessible scheme, which is used extensively by local communities, welcomes visitors including local residents and schools.
On the 28 &29 September 2023, around 20 members of staff, site workforce and supply chain partners arrived with an excavator, dumper, and other equipment & materials, to set about various tasks aimed to improve the market garden.
The Phase one tasks included:
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- Area 1 : area cleared and levelled, and robust composting area constructed,
- Area 2 : area cleared, excavated and sub-base stone placed within the polytunnel, improving access for disabled users and making ready for re-roofing, and
- Area 3 : Vegetation trimmed to ground level.
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The transformation to the Poly Tunnel and a new Compost Area was gratefully received and will help provide much needed facilities for the people that Ideal for All supports. Ideal for All can now continue rebuilding their operation to get back on track.
The next phase is to repair & resurface a pathway around the gardens. This will take place in 2024.