Set in the grounds of The Wantage Community Support Service (previously The Charlton Centre) next to Charlton Primary School, the Market Garden is a true partnership run by Sustainable Wantage, Style Acre and Oxfordshire County Council.
On Sunday 19 May you are invited to go along and be part of the Wantage Market Garden’s Open Day which will be held from 12pm until 3pm. There is plenty to see and do including shopping for plants at their plant sale, tucking into delicious homemade cakes and refreshments and your children can take part in the free children’s activities. Entry is free but sadly, other than assistance dogs, no other dogs are allowed.
Through the year, the Market Garden offers a safe, calm space where people they support, employ and their volunteers can work together. During the week, Style Acre supports people with learning disabilities and autism to care for the garden where they benefit from the therapeutic benefits gardening offers. The Gardening Co-ordinator, who is a staff member, delivers sessions in the garden and oversees their various gardening projects.
There are numerous benefits for those involved in the weekly tasks, including:
- Learning and developing gardening skills
- Understanding the benefits of growing your own produce and healthy eating
- Taking part in activities that benefit mental and physical wellbeing
- Understanding about wildlife friendly gardening
- Being part of a team and building confidence and friendships
- Gaining work experience and training through their Green Acre social enterprise
Every Sunday afternoon, whatever the weather, a team of volunteers get involved in the Community gardening which provides them with the opportunity to care for the plants, develop new projects and undertake any required DIY tasks, whilst enjoying each other’s company, the rewards of surplus veg and excellent cake! This team is managed by Sustainable Wantage and welcomes new volunteers from the local community.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all of those involved in the Wantage Market Garden, the space has been transformed from a dilapidated area into a thriving garden which produces flowers, vegetables, and fruit. It is also a beautiful, peaceful space where people can enjoy growing their own flowers and produce to take home. The volunteers who are involved with this ever-growing project are from all walks of life, sharing a passion for gardening and nature. Inclusivity and empowerment are key to the project’s overall success.
If you live in the Wantage area and love to garden, and are looking for a volunteering opportunity, the Wantage Market Garden could be just the place for you. Either you could do something really positive and help to support sessions for people with learning disabilities and autism during the week or, you could become a weekend volunteer. Corporate volunteering groups are also welcome to come in and help with big gardening projects.
The various seasonal plant sales held during the year offer a chance for you to stock up on all sorts of goodies for your own garden, safe in the knowledge they have been grown with care and love. The dates for these sales can be found at styleacre.org.uk/newsevents/upcoming-events. Financial donations to the garden are also welcome to help with the running costs and purchase of tools and other essential equipment.
There are various ways you can get in touch if you are interested in volunteering either as an individual in the week to help support gardeners or a corporate group, please contact Style Acre via email at community@styleacre.org.uk or call 01491 827593. To enquire about volunteering at Community sessions on a Sunday afternoon, please email Sustainable Wantage at info.suswantage@gmail.com
To find out more about this project, join their Facebook group Wantage Market Garden Facebook group, or visit styleacre.org.uk/what-we-do/gardening-project/wantage-market-garden and sustainablewantage.org.uk
All images supplied by Styleacre
