A new community group has set up in Ford Green with the aim of bringing the community together through green-fingered and creative projects.

The Ford Green Team has emerged from an earlier project which sought to engage the community with issues to do with climate justice.

Georgia Kliment-Temple is the chair of the new group and said the projects and events they organise will be things the community has asked for.

She explained the group's founders have been out and about chatting to local people, and learning more about what they'd like to see in the area.

She said: "Two of the key things that came out of that was access to gardening groups and green spaces, and coming to gather to grow, but also youth activity and cultural, creative events.

"In the pipeline we have something really joyous – a community pantomime this Christmas at St Saviour's Church.

"We're going to go with Robin Hood and we're really excited. There'll be opportunities for anyone in the community to get involved in that – whether that's a cast member, making props, or just being an audience member."

She added there is scope for lots of different activities, and the more people that get involved the more the group will be able to develop.

She said: "When we think about climate justice, that is everything from being able to heat your home and pay your bills but also connection to nature and connection to community.

"We're six months down the line and we've now constituted as a community group. What we're looking to do is put on more community activities, events and joy.

"It'll be in the area surrounding Ford Green Nature Reserve, which we've decided is our natural boundary to avoid any political or existing geographical boundaries."

To ensure it's a success, the Ford Green Team has chosen to partner with B Arts to create a programme of activities which will be announced shortly.

They're also hoping to employ a member of staff to plan and deliver these activities – and are hoping to begin recruitment for this in the near future.

Susan Clarke, artistic and executive director of B Arts, said it's an exciting project to be part of.

She said: "It's good to see local grassroots organisations springing hip to make positive change in their neighbourhood.

"As B Arts, we bring a speciality in working closely with people, but doing that in a creative way. What's really nice is that lots of the initiatives are really creative and green.

"Those sorts of things can really engage people who don't want to sit around having a planning meeting but would really like to muck in and have fun making things, and doing things together.

"It's responding to what local people want, and I think that's what's really important. We want to support local people to take the lead and make their dreams a reality."

B Arts started out as a street theatre company almost 40 years ago and has since grown to provide high quality arts experiences with people from many different backgrounds who would not normally engage with the arts.

Georgia added that the new group will use Ford Green Nature Reserve as a natural focal point, with the aim of involving people within a half-hour walking distance.

She said: "Rather than being neighbourhood focussed, we want to get people organising around the green spaces, using the nature reserve and celebrating the fantastic community resources we already have.

"Hopefully we'll get some of the community centres used a bit more as well – we've got hopes we can get some of those up and running with more events happening."

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