Incredible plans for more community gardens

Incredible Edible have started planting at new sites across the town, beginning at Wilmslow Health Centre this week.

On Tuesday, 5th March, two fruit trees, donated by Heidi Sumner and family, have been planted alongside two baby currant and two tiny gooseberries bushes. Alongside the wall the voluntary group have also planted chives, rosemary and bay, the majority of which were taken from cuttings planted at Bank Square last year.

In December, Wilmslow Town Council approved a grant of £1650 for Incredible Edible, to enable them to buy fruit bushes, herbs and vegetable seeds which will be planted at a number of locations in the town, including Wilmslow Station, Bank Square, Dean Drive and Wilmslow Library, as well as Wilmslow Health Centre where further planting will be carried out later in the year.

Towards the end of March Incredible Edible will also be planting at two new sites in the north of the town, at Dean Drive and Stanneylands crossroads, £700 of the grant from Wilmslow Town Council will be put towards this.

Helen Yates of Incredible Edible said "These spots for those that know them have sat overgrown for years and more recently totally empty, slowly refilling themselves with weeds, so we'll get some nice herbs and fruit bushes in here."

Incredible Edible will also be joining Transition Wilmslow at Colshaw Farm this weekend where they will be building raised beds and composts bins in the garden of the Riverside Hostel and Lime Tree Court.

Garry Olson of Transition Wilmslow explained "The aim is to involve the residents there so they can learn new skills and produce some of their own food. The hostel has also offered space at the front of their site for a community garden."

The group of volunteers teamed up with Wilmslow Business Group and Wilmslow Town Council last year to enter the RHS In Bloom competition, which they picked up two awards from, and helped complete Wilmslow' s first Spring Clean last year.

Helen said "We'll be entering North West In Bloom again with Wilmslow Business Group and Wilmslow Town Council this year and going for gold after our highly commended silver award last year.

"We're very excited actually because RHS Britain In Bloom have a national push on edible gardens this year and are encouraging Bloom groups to try it, so we think we're in with a really good chance already having this focus.

"We're hoping more businesses will join in to transform the look of the town. I'll be at the next Wilmslow Business Group meeting to promote it to local businesses - we had 22 last year and are hoping for more this time."

If you would like to join the volunteers on Saturday, 9th March, they would love the extra pairs of hands. Alternatively Incredible Edible meet at 2pm on the first Sunday of each month, outside the library, to tend community plots in the town.

For further information email [email protected] or contact Helen on 07771 862 863.