Peterborough social enterprise appeal for volunteers to help create new garden space

Up the Garden Bath is a Cambridgeshire based social enterprise who take old and discarded materials, such as bath tubs, and upcycle them into garden planters and other accessories.

Peterborough City Council, Aragon Direct Services and Mick George Ltd support the project by donating unwanted baths and wood from their recycling centres and they also receive donations from the public.

They have teamed up with Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) to transform their underused green space in the west of Peterborough. The aim is to create a multi-use area that can be used to grow produce, host educational workshops and attract wildlife.

PECT is a grassroots organisation that seeks to educate, inspire and motivate individuals andorganisations to change their behaviour to deliver a positive environmental impact. Thecharity specialises in using eco-education and awareness-raising to encourage behaviour change and collective action.

The new garden will include innovative vertical planters to make the most of the available space, alongside bathtub planters to create growing areas at a height that is easily accessible for all volunteers and children.

Up The Garden Bath strives to use 100% recycled and unwanted materials to give them a new lease of life and for environmental benefit.

Founder of Up the Garden Bath, Dave Poulton said: “Our aim is to renovate the area using only recycled, unwanted, donated materials and with the help and support of willing volunteers.

“We want to prove that with a little creativity, imagination and a collaborative approach gardening can be accessible and affordable for everyone.”

Stuart Dawks, Director of Operations at PECT added: “We really want to demonstrate how unwanted materials can be given a new lease of life and become useful, rather than just being discarded and sent to landfill.

“We also want to create a community growing area that shows how everyone can create a garden with just the smallest of budgets.”

The social enterprise is calling for volunteers and donations of materials for the project. Anyone who would like to get involved can contact Up The Garden Bath via [email protected] or online at www.upthegardenbath.co.uk.