Mundy C of E Junior School pride themselves on the environmental and ecological work they do and have already achieved 2 Green Flag Awards for the fantastic work they carry out within the school grounds.
The idea to create Community Gardens at school came about when they started working towards their 3rd Green Flag at the same time as looking for ways to build stronger links with the local community. The aim of this project is to create a place where local people and children from Mundy Junior School can meet to grow produce, encouraging a sharing of knowledge and the building of relationships.
Already many different local groups and individuals have expressed an interested in renting an area of the gardens when they open and the school have had many offers of help through donations and offers to assist with the build.
To help with the cost of building the Community Gardens Mundy School have applied for a NatWest Community Force Grant and part of that application involved the filming of a video that has been put on YouTube for the world to see and for everyone to vote for the school to win the grant.
The response from our local community when approached to get involved has been amazing. Around 27 different groups were represented in the video, from pensioners to toddlers, PCSO Emma Baker, Heanor WI, St Lawrence Church, Scouts, Coppice Primary, Corfield Infants, Heanor Gate Science College, Heanor Weenies, O.Heap Fire Protection, local farmers and The COG, a new community group working to strengthen the community of Heanor.
As a direct response to the video Shipley Garden Centre have donated £300 worth of seeds to help get the gardens started and Easi-Bind International donated a pallet of A4 paper to promote the project. Chris Wells, a student at Aldercar Phoenix College, created and edited the video as part of his A level course work. The video contains a 3D Computer Generated plan of the garden to give a real feel of what Mundy Junior School would like to achieve.
The Community Gardens are going to be built on a piece of the school’s under-utilized land at the edge of the sports field. When they are open the plan is to rent out different areas to groups and individuals so they can grow produce alongside pupils at Mundy Juniors who will be growing to supply the school kitchens and to sell on their market stall. The gardens will also be used as a learning environment, with classes being held for outside groups to come along to share skills like willow weaving.
It is not all going to be about work! Mundy CofE Juniors want Heanor Safer Neighbour Hood Team to be a big part in this project and work with them by holding weekly meetings and sessions where the people using the gardens can have a cuppa, chat and get to know their local police force in a positive environment helping to build trust, relationships and to help to build a sense of belonging.
Please help Mundy School secure the NatWest Grant by watching their video and voting for them via the NatWest Link.
http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/1966
****VOTING CLOSES ON 26TH OCTOBER****
PLEASE VOTE FOR MUNDY
