Local social enterprise Glossop Community Allotment (GCA), who use the power of gardening to build wellbeing across the community, are celebrating the "end of the beginning" for a new allotment project in Mottram thanks to the philanthropic efforts of a multinational company. 

GCA’s Chair, Mick Owen, who also chairs The Be Well Partnership which brings together four not-for-profit organisations to deliver wellbeing in Glossop and beyond, explained how the project was born. 

"The idea was planted when our inter-generational worker, Vicky Murphy, visited Mottram Primary School to discuss how we can help make young and old alike to feel happier and healthier as part of our Reuniting the Generations project which aims to get young and old people together to share time, space and purposeful activities. 

"She talked to Class 5 teacher Amanda Levy who showed Vicky round and said how much the children enjoyed and benefited from planting, growing and harvesting flowers and vegetables in the school’s polytunnel and raised beds." 

From there, the seed germinated and plans to create a small allotment at the school started to take root.

Year 5 pupils from Mottram Primary checking on progress 

Vicky’s first job was to get support within The Be Well Partnership. The project brief of facilitating the growing of food fitted well into an Eat Well Glossop National Lottery-funded project and Glossop Community Allotment, who have a flourishing plot in Dinting are always keen to work in the community on food growing projects. 

When Vicky got wind that Hanson UK, a leading supplier of heavy building materials to the construction industry, were looking for a practical and worthwhile community project for one of their work teams to deliver, she joined the dots. 

The harvest of her idea was a great day in the sun, a lot of hard graft and the creation of a six-bed plot (one for each class) surrounded by paths, ready for volunteers from Mottram village and neighbouring communities to strip turf and dig over the beds so the children can get planting. 

Locals and visitors working as one using donated materials

Mick Owen, Chair of the Be Well Partnership, said: “It was a tremendous day for everyone involved and has left a lasting legacy for the school. We couldn’t have done it without the help of the Hanson volunteers who really put their backs into the work and boosted their wellbeing into the bargain.”

Local people keen to get involved in the Mottram Primary School Allotment project can contact Amanda at the school. 

Before (top) and after (below) the work started