Please see below for exciting new opportunities in Darwen courtesy of the fantastic Whitehall Park Supporters Group.
We run a community garden based within the park. The community vegetable garden is a place for many to access on a regular basis for many reasons. We are a friendly, diverse group and we have just finished work making part of the vegetable garden accessible for mobility access. This includes, a road side two way opening gate with a ramp onto a level flat surface area with raised beds, wheel chair accessible potting bench and wheel chair accessible picnic benches.
We are hopeful this new work will open up part of the garden to service users, social prescribers and other organisations who may benefit from accessing the community garden group.
If this is something people may want to use or benefit from, or you may know of any other services/organisations then please get in touch.
Further details
- The group’s official name: Whitehall Supporters Group
- Provider type: community group, Voluntary group
Purpose of the group
Whitehall Park Supporters Group is a volunteer group who look after Whitehall Park. WPSG organise events in the park and run the community garden. WPSG also manage some of the up keep within the park which include the orchard, tree pruning, planting of spring bulbs and looking after the plant life in the Rose Garden section of the park. The committee meet once a month to share ideas, source funding to help work towards developing the park and allow sub-committees to share their progress. The committee meetings are open to new comers and new volunteers are always welcomed. The WPSG was awarded the Community CVS award for environment community group 2021.
- Find WPSG on Facebook
- Check out WPSG on Instagram
- Contact name: Rita Billington
- Contact position: Secretary
- Contact email address: whitehallparksg@btinternet.com
Groups that are run within the park
Community garden is free to access and is for all within the community. We currently have participants attend who are looking after their own mental wellbeing, recovering from surgery or illness, retired individuals, refugees, families and individuals managing specific learning needs. Community garden grow and share produce from the garden where we tend to all types of fruit and vegetables including fruit trees. We are a diverse, friendly group and welcome all to the parks beautiful gardening community. There is no pressure to garden as it is a place to be outdoors, enjoy nature and the gardens in a positive, friendly setting. No gardening experience is necessary and all gardening equipment are provided. Refreshments are provided from the Rose Garden cabin where there is a small kitchen, disabled toilet and central heating for the colder months. Whitehall Park Supporters Group have just completed work on a new mobility access to part of the garden with a road side access gate, levelled concrete ground work, raised veg beds also wheel chair friendly potting and picnic benches.
Community garden is every Mondays 10-12 and Saturdays 1-3 and meet at the cabin in the Rose Garden Whitehall Park Darwen.
SOW, GROW, HARVEST
The Little Potting Club is a children’s garden group aimed at children and their families. Any age is welcome and we currently have participants from the age of 18 months to 12 years old. It is free to attend and no need to book, just turn up. Activities are planned around nature and gardening where we run outdoors in all weather and throughout all seasons, so please dress weather appropriate and for gardening. Even though we run 1-2pm many families stay until 3pm where children play together, have a drink and a snack while parent/carers have a cup of tea or coffee. It is a very friendly, welcoming community. All gardening equipment are provided. We are members of the RHS School Gardening Campaign.
The Little Potting Club meet every Saturday 1-2 at the Rose Garden cabin.
SOW, GROW, LEARN
