From Dreams to Digging
At The UP Creative Hub, we believe that the best spaces are grown together. Over the last year, our project at St. Andrew’s Church has evolved from “Dream Time” sessions into a “Time to Do” reality. By blending sustainability, social integration, and youth engagement, we are transforming the church garden into a vibrant, resilient hub for the Leyfields estate.
Seeds of Integration: The “Safety Seekers” Collaboration
Sustainability isn’t just about plants; it’s about people and resources. To meet our goal of diverting waste from landfills, we collaborated with Christian Safety Seekers currently residing in Tamworth.
- Meaningful Work: Five volunteers from Persia, Kurdistan, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Iraq dedicated nine days at our Ankerside Community Hub.
Creative Upcycling: Using reclaimed materials from the Ankerside loading bay, they designed and built tall planters. These are ergonomically designed to remove the need for bending, making gardening accessible for everyone.- Empowerment: Beyond the physical build, this partnership helped our volunteers improve their language skills and gain “Certificates of Gratitude” to support their Home Office applications.
Future-Proofing Through Belonging
A common concern during our consultations was the long-term maintenance and protection of the garden against anti-social behavior (ASB). Our solution? Ownership. We engaged the local children and young people (CYP) of Leyfields in the design process to ensure they feel a sense of belonging in the space.
The Community Quilt: During our “Playing In” sessions, children created a quilt representing the foundations of Faith, Love, and Hope. This will hang in the church as a lasting visual of their contribution.- Fairy Door Decor: To add a touch of magic, the planters will be adorned with fairy doors created by the local children, giving them a personal stake in looking after the garden.
- Smart Design: We have recommended a Circular Gabion Bench—a durable, “forever” seating solution that is resistant to damage while providing a central point for rest.
Growing a Sustainable Legacy
The garden is designed to be self-sustaining and community-led. Here’s what’s sprouting soon:
| Feature | Description |
| Seed Swap Station | A “Little Free Library” style hub for sharing seeds, bulbs, and cuttings. |
| Sensory Planting | A mix of Lavender, Mint, Sage, and Crocosmia for scent and color. |
| Lasagne Composting | A cost-effective, sustainable way to fill deep planters using local organic waste. |
| Eco-Church Alignment | Integrating with St. Andrew’s existing Fair Trade and environmental goals. |
Join Us for Community Planting Day!
The project culminates in a Community Planting Day, where the whole neighborhood is invited to help put the finishing touches on the garden.
We’ll be hosting a Treasure Hunt for kids to forage for materials to fill the planters and putting our first donated seeds into the ground. It’s a celebration of hard work, new friendships, and the bright future of St. Andrew’s Church.