Community allotment brought back into use at popular Stoke-on-Trent park
An allotment at a popular Stoke-on-Trent park is reopening after being closed for over a year - and you can get involved.
Produce grown at the allotment based on the grounds of Burslem Park will be used at the Pavilion Tea Room and anyone who wants to help grow fruit and vegetables are welcome to assist in maintaining the site.
Countrywide Grounds Maintenance volunteered to clear the allotment of weeds and clutter so crops could be grown at the site as part of the project in collaboration with the owners of the park's cafe.
Emma Smith and her brother William opened the Pavilion Tea Room at Burslem Park in February and now Emma's husband David Smith has been working with his Countrywide colleagues Mike Harrison, Brian Donnellan and Bradley Hulse to bring the allotment back into use.
David said: "We knew the allotment was there, not being used, and we just started asking the council questions about what was happening with it.
"It's been empty for around 18 months and we thought it would be a good idea to grow stuff for the cafe and we can get the community involved as well which is what we're all about.
"I spoke to Mike and got him on board so we could get the things going and we've already spoken to a few people who want to come down and help out which is good.
"I'm normally here at the cafe on the weekend anyway so anyone who wants to get involved with the allotment can get in contact online or come and see me or Emma at the cafe."
It's hoped the project will help people's mental health and there are also plans to get nearby schools involved so children can learn about where food comes from.
The keys to the site will be kept at the Pavilion Tea Room so anyone wanting to grow or look after the plants in the allotment can do so easily.
Mike said: "We're hoping to get schools involved with this project so kids can learn more about where food actually comes from - not just from the supermarket - and the effort that goes into growing vegetables from putting it in the ground to it getting on your plate.
"We're more than happy to jump on board and help with the upkeep of the allotment but we want to give people the opportunity to come down and look after this space as a community."
"We're really pleased with what we've achieved in bringing it back into use."
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