LOCAL people, from young children to the homeless, have benefited from a series of summer workshops.
The Green Prosperity Project, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, saw families learn how to grow vegetables at East Hull Community Farm.
The scheme also joined forces with Riverside’s Crossings scheme in east Hull, working with homeless people who were taught how to make planters and enhance their skills.
Andy Steele, Green Prosperity community co-ordinator, said: “The aim of our summer programme was to engage people from the local area in the processes of growing their own food and building a connection to their environment.
“We organised activities such as harvesting and preparing fruit and vegetables, leading a foraging trip to a local nature reserve and building food planters from recycled materials. We helped members of the community, from homeless individuals to high school pupils to young families, to develop new skills and appreciate how producing their own food can be beneficial financially, physically and emotionally – not to mention lots of fun.”
The sessions were fully booked, with 15 adults taking part in every workshop and 15 young children and their parents at each activity.
This meant more than 100 people across east Hull reaped the benefits.
Mr Steele said: “We are delighted by the response to our summer programme and are looking forward to a busy autumn.
“We will be supporting residents to lower their energy costs via our provision of free home energy surveys and meters. We will also be developing our community allotment in Longhill and rolling out our first free horticulture courses for adults.”
Green Prosperity, which works in partnership with Hull Warmzone, is also linking up with Archbishop Sentamu Academy.
The Eco-Club launches on Tuesday, September 17, with a day of food harvesting and preparation, plus den building at the farm.
The club will be made up of a group of about 25 Year 7 and Year 8 pupils who have expressed a keen interest in environmental issues.
It will be run by science teacher Steve Williams, food technology teacher Jill Maund and Andy Steele.