Taff tenants delighted with allotment makeover - Integrate contractors generously donate time and over £8,000 of materials

A full-scale action day to transform a once derelict allotment site has been hailed a success by plot holders, demonstrating the power a partnership approach through consortia can have on community investment. More than 50 people attended the Taff Housing Allotment Action Day on May 29th to help construct a pond, build a fruit cage and plant up new raised timber beds.

Taff Housing took on five allotment plots in early 2011, facing a mammoth task to remove a wilderness of marsh grass and tonnes of dumped rubbish. With support from Integrate contractors through the donation of materials and time, the plots have been transformed into an amazing project, with tenants growing their own fresh vegetables for the first time. Taff has been busy developing new social housing sites in Cardiff – and key contractors involved kindly pitched in to provide much needed facilities.
On the action day, staff from construction group Leadbitter planted up five new raised beds donated by the company, which will be used by disabled and low mobility tenants to enjoy planting and picking produce. Developer M&J Cosgrove also pitched in with their staff landscaping a new pond area for tenants to enjoy. Building firm mi-space also came up trumps, donating a fruit cage, which has been planted up with currants and berry bushes to harvest later in the year. Taff’s maintenance contractor GKR has been busy installing fencing, gates and footpaths, which have made a massive improvement to the site access.

Above: Leadbitter community investment staff and apprentices filling the five raised timber beds donated by the construction group, with a variety of crops

Above: GKR have installed a number of wide access paths improving access across the site

Above: Gary Cosgrove, Director of M&J Cosgrove enjoyed getting stuck in alongside tenants

Taff Housing Chief Executive Elaine Ballard personally thanked all the contractors for their sterling efforts to transform the site. Allotment group chairman Fanwell Tandi said: “On behalf of the Taff Community Allotment Group, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to the magnificent work all the contractors have done for our allotment. “What was 12 months ago, a derelict piece of land, has been given a facelift and turned into a magnificent garden and recreation centre for the tenants.”

If you would like to get involved in a community project as part of your commitment to community investment and targeted recruitment and training, please get in touch:

Clare Parry

Project Coordinator
Integrate  
e-mail: cparry@uwha.co.uk
Mobile: 07554 415846