By Graham Rogers and Team REEL
Over the last year, Team REEL has been working in association with Lees Park Eco Hub, helping to run groups and assisting with maintaining the site. Two volunteers, Graham and Gareth, helped Alan (Hub lead) every week with the Eco Hub volunteers with whatever jobs needed doing – getting their hands dirty, so to speak. Among many other jobs the team have been re-planting butternut squash and strawberries. They also took seeds from various plants to save ready to start the next year’s crop. Volunteers, Louise and Graham helped re-plant rose bushes in the spring of 2021. This was hard work – but both got a great sense of self-achievement and ‘wow, we did that’ moment when it was finished. It was very rewarding and they can’t wait to see them bloom again this year.
The hub is a safe environment for volunteers to go to, to learn new skills. One volunteer said it has been great for their own mental health and wellbeing, giving them a focus and something to look forward to. We cannot underestimate the importance we think that the site brings to the local community and the contribution to people who will be accessing it. Everyone benefits from these types of opportunities.
Later in 2021, whilst on site harvesting pumpkins, the team came up with the idea that this would be great to involve their own children and family groups that are run by Team REEL. We held Halloween activities on the site, which involved children and their carer’s picking their own pumpkin from the those growing on site, carving the pumpkins, playing party games, singing and dancing and spooky themed stories.
Having the poly tunnel provides a great space for groups to enjoy sessions at the hub. We have been lucky to be able to work with a number of groups over the last year or so, mainly with kids at the heart of it, so they can learn about the outdoors in a safe place. This together with Alan’s knowledge, the activities have gone down very well and we are seeing people coming back again with the promise of spring and better weather. Seeing the kid’s faces when they are enjoying themselves is a very special thing and Lees Park ECO Hub is definitely one special place that does that.
Thinking ahead… Our plans for 2022, will be to get more groups accessing and enjoying the site. We have plans to be running baby classes, our dad’s group will be helping out to maintain the site and we will be running themed events through out the year, including Easter, Halloween, Christmas, cooking sessions, fitness classes, mindfulness sessions, plus many more. Watch this space…
For more information and to contact Team REEL email info@reelcic.co.uk
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