A GARDEN OASIS AMONGST THE MADNESS

 

Printed in the FA Trophy 2nd round match v Chatham Town Saturday 16th November 2024  We won 4-2 on penalties after a last minute equaliser to make it 1-1 in front of 547

Why do we fall for snake oil salesmen over and over again?

Why do we vote for politicians who spout meaningless slogans and snappy soundbites MAKE CHEESE GRATE AGAIN That spend all their time pointing their finger and shouting that if we just rid of those people over there, then we will all be bathing in milk and honey (the people pointing the fingers are always, already bathing in plenty of milk and honey).

I was pondering all this and the fact that I can’t do much about it last week, and that all we can really change is the immediate places around us.

I also maybe stupidly think the impossible is possible. Our community pub is an example of something that shouldn’t really exist and another is our community garden set up years ago by a group of friends.

This year its the 30th anniversary of Moulsecoomb Forest Garden, our little garden oasis which has grown from a half abandoned allotment site into a wildlife haven that supports adults with learning disabilities and children struggling in mainstream education. As well as home for wildlife who have taken up residence but ungratefully scoff half the food we grow and badgers that have even learnt how to build bridges while digging the place up looking for worms.

Being good neighbours we have also helped transform the surrounding area. We’ve breathed new life into the neglected woods, came up with a management plan for the old farmers field behind the woods; the train station has got a bee and butterfly bank and we regularly do rubbish sweeps and collect all the leaves which we turn into compost. Because if a place looks loved and looked after it’s less likely to be trashed.

We are part of the team that has helped transform Moulsecoomb Primary schools grounds where we’ve planted hundreds of trees; there's an orchard, wildlife ponds, chickens, veg gardens and replica pre historical houses, ….a place for children to thrive and learn and play at a school where 65% get free school dinners. In the most recent OFSTED report inspectors said “Gardening activities boost pupils’ mental health and well-being, giving pupils opportunities to proudly develop their impressive school grounds further.”

For many of the pupils we work with, the only qualifications they will get will be from us. Being around for so long, we have built up relationships with families that go back years and means we can contact those families that often don’t fill in the forms, make sure their children don’t miss out, and step in when there are crises.

As one head told us “Since working at Moulescoomb Gardens, H has shown a complete change in both his maturity and the way he responds to both adults and students. The mentoring and 1-1 support provided has not only improved his confidence, but also his skillset. Without this programme, this student would be excluded from education"

While the idea of the garden is to grow food for many of the adults with disabilities that come along its much more than just that.

‘Coming here is therapeutic. If I didn’t come here, I would feel more alone.’

‘I like coming here for the friendship and banter. If I didn’t come here, I would be laying about and my health would suffer. Being out in the fresh air is makes me feel good.’

‘I have been coming 20 years I really like the people. I like being out in the community even though there’s not a lot I can do because of my disability.’

That’s not to say our little haven isn’t immune from the outside world. Money is always tight and we can’t help but notice less bees, butterfly's and insects. And I can’t remember the last time I saw a hedgehog. Mind you, we have got plenty of badgers. And slugs. You’re welcome to them. As the climate has warmed up there’s now a lack of frosts that would kill of the bugs, and the never ending rain that fills up our water tanks but soaks the soul as well as our socks.

We need more politicians who help us make the impossible possible. And we all need green spaces to keep us sane. I'm counting our 3G pitch and the dulcet tones of the One Slough Beyond Orchestra as a place to come together, forget your sorrows and create somewhere better. It’s much more fun than always pointing that finger of blame.

Take a peek at what we do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eingys9NJeM&t=7s