Learning from Acton in the past to grow for the future

Who you are?
Ark Acton Academy Parents group (working with other local residents).

What did you deliver?
The project split into two main parts. The first was to provide window seed boxes for Ark Acton Academy students to take home. 30 seed boxes were distributed. The second part was working on a raised flower bed at the bottom of Creswick Road (where it joins Horn Lane). This involved weeding and planting. Various volunteers helped with this, including the watering.

Creswick Road raised flower bed before the project

Creswick Road raised flower bed during the project

What difference did the project make?
There was some challenging learning for the seed boxes. Getting them distributed took a while. Then, the long hot summer resulted in many people finding it difficult to grow. But it did mean that students, many without gardens, engaged in growing (or attempting to grow) in challenging conditions. Feedback through WhatsApp groups detailed peoples’ attempts and difficulties, as well as blooms. It also highlighted enthusiasm to try again next year.

Window seed box before the project

Window seed box during the project

As for the raised flowerbed in Creswick Road, the main feedback came from people walking by. This included neighbours known to volunteers, but also other residents who appreciated the work and, in some cases, offered to help. Two local children donated sunflower plants, which blossomed in September, which really brightened the garden up.

Creswick Road raised bed sunflower

Creswick Road raised bed sunflower

What did you learn?
Doing a gardening project in a very dry summer is challenging! Parts of London experienced up to 50 consecutive days without rain. For the raised flower bed, that meant carrying four full watering cans each night to the garden (there is no tap nearby). In addition, conducting a project in a secondary school can difficult. Unlike a primary school where there is lots of interaction with parents in the playground, in secondary schools contacts with parents are always several steps removed and the people more geographically dispersed. But it was worth it to make connection with various different parents.

There were difficult moments. More than once, flowers were taken after they flowered. We talked a lot about this, and wondered whether people realised they were flowers that had been planted as opposed to being wild flowers. We made sure the garden looked cared for and weeded more regularly, and added wood chip too. Thereafter the vast majority of flowers were left undisturbed.

The main thing we learned was how much people appreciated volunteers working on communal flower bed. In terms of tips for others, the main advice is to keep the work as simple as possible, especially if it is your first project.

Creswick Road raised bed volunteers

What next?
We will continue to maintain the flower bed in Creswick Road. This will involve weeding. Blubs have already been planted which flower next spring. And when the times come, the patch will be continued to be watered. We will add some herbs too, which people will be free to take (there is already some mint growing there). As for the seed boxes, students and parents will try again next year (there are still seeds available for next year). The school will support through its garden project.

What would you say to anyone else looking to make a difference to their Town or take part in Your Voice Your Town?
Although the co-ordination can be difficult it is really rewarding, especially when people you don’t know complement the work. It makes a statement that people care about the community and can (hopefully) encourage others to do the same.