It’s an exciting time for Bassetlaw Food Bank’s ‘Grow It, Fix It’ project. The team is busy planting seeds and has currently planted 27 species of fruit and vegetables including multiple varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, spring onions, potatoes and leeks.
With the help of regular volunteers alongside corporate volunteers from Bellway Homes, NG Bailey and Vinci Construction, Butternut Box and Kier Construction the charity has:
- Cleared overgrown areas of weeds and brambles.
- Established 20 additional allotment plots.
- Sown seeds for a wildflower meadow.
- Planted a herb garden and lavender bush.
The produce, which will be harvested later in the year, will go on to support their emergency food parcels and their weekly lunch club at the Harworth and Bircotes Town Council.
There is gorgeous blossom on the trees in the orchard with varieties of plum, apple, pear and damson situated by the apiary. They produced a small yield of fruit last year much to the surprise of staff, who are now hoping for a bigger yield this year.
And with the help of their wonderful beekeeping volunteers, they had the first hive inspection of the year in April. The good news is that they have a healthy, strong Queen bee and colony which sets them up well to harvest honey later in the year. Last year they had enough to fill 17 jars which were available for volunteers and staff for a small donation.
They’ll be doing the same this year to allow volunteers to reap the sweet reward of their hard work!
More so, on Thursday afternoons they have the pleasure of working alongside Alan and Lee, who are working with the food bank as part of the UKSPF fund. You’ll find them in the workshop where they have been building benches, have treated the beehive to provide protection from the elements and have kindly replaced the missing head to the allotment scarecrow!
The ‘Grow It, Fix It’ project creates a range of volunteer roles and supports other projects led by the charity with fresh produce. If you would like to get involved with the project or any of the other projects led by Bassetlaw Food Bank, contact admin@bassetlawfoodbank.org.