The green hub helping a community to grow
Grow Speke is a green community hub in South Liverpool.
It’s difficult to believe that just 7 years ago, it was previously a wasteland that attracted anti-social behaviour.
Thanks to a partnership between Groundwork, South Liverpool Homes and the local community, it is now a vibrant green community hub where the local community can make new friends, learn new skills and improve their own health and wellbeing.
Activities
The site hosts a variety of activities throughout the week that are accessible and free to all. These include;
- food growing and cooking
- horticulture and gardening
- education and training
- health and wellbeing
- arts and crafts
- learning about nature, conservation and biodiversity
Food growing
Food grown on site is donated to local people and their families via local community groups. The remainder is taken home by the volunteers themselves as a thank you for their help.
The site contains two polytunnels, 25 timber raised beds, a fruit orchard, 2 ponds and a colourful native wildflower meadow. There is also an apiary with 7 beehives and a registered beekeeper, who looks after the bees on the site. Honey is harvested and sold in jars, with proceeds used to fund the bees’ upkeep.
Engaging with nature
Grow Speke is a community space that allows local people to engage with nature on their doorstep. Thanks to local volunteers, funders and partners, the site is now a vibrant, food productive area that doesn’t use any pesticides and improves people wellbeing through supported community engagement and connecting with nature.
Grow Speke isn’t just about growing fruit, vegetables and flowers – its also about allowing people to grow too, in a welcoming and friendly environment. Or as we like to say, ‘Grow with the Flow’.
Below is how the site used to look…..
