Stirchley goes green with Fruit and Nut Village!

As part of an ongoing project to make the area of Stirchley in Birmingham a greener community, Fruit and Nut Village have organised a wide range of events and projects that both create green spaces and bring the community of Stirchley together in order to make this goal happen. As well as this, the creation of the different green spaces brings forth the opportunity for connected food abundant spaces.

The green spaces will include orchards, nut groves, forest gardens and edible hedges. These developments will create a wider range of fresh and healthy food for the residents of Stirchley, as well as building a greater sense of community.

As part of the project model, each Fruit and Nut Village must have an allocated ‘Mother Garden’ that will support the community with the growing and nursing of different plants and trees that will be planted in public spaces. The ‘Mother Gardens’ are also encouraged to make connections with other existing mother gardens in order to develop, through schemes such as plant-sharing and advice.

Fruit and Nut Village as an organisation is part of a partnership project between Food Forest Brum and Let’s Grow Together. Both of these organisations promote environmental well-being, with a great emphasis on education and helping communities.

In terms of funding, Fruit and Nut Village Stirchley is currently receiving a grant amounting to £30,000 for two years from the National Lottery, and are in the process of applying for £120,000 for three years.

The various events held in Stirchley have brought about great success, with large groups of all ages attending and helping with all types of activities. Recently, the group started a project at the Pebble Mill playing fields, where their aim is to create a family-friendly space with trees and different fruit and nut bushes. This particular activity involved preparing the ground for planting in mind of the area being on a flood plain.

The group for this activity ranged from young children to older patrons, with core members of the Spring to Life organisation present. Felipe Molina, a member of Spring to Life, said: “We are all about creating win wins, the people involved come out because they enjoy it and they get so much out of it. Children are learning valuable skills, and we’re creating a great group of people with strong connections and ideas about well-being and the environment.”

The area also already boasted success from previous activities, with young trees beginning to grow under the careful eye of experienced members. Another member of the group said: “I am excited for my children to come back to this place in twenty years’ time and see the things they’ve planted and the environmental good they have done.”