ART IN THE GARDEN
Emily Fuller is our Artist in the Garden
We hold weekly art workshops led by Emily where volunteers and participants can explore their creativity in a beautiful outdoor setting. We use garden art materials with all artistic mediums; painting, drawing, carpentry and woodworking, mosaics, knitting and crochet and crafts.
One of the largest studies to date on gardens and gardening found that people who spent time in the garden report better physical and mental health levels than those who do not
(read full article https://www.ukri.org How Plants Promote… 27 July, 2023)
UK Research Institute
When we came into the garden it was overgrown and uncared for. The transformation has been incredible. It’s like the eye of the hurricane here: around us there is a concrete jungle, but we have beauty in here.
Everyone gets on so well. We know the community now and the garden has a really nice buzz around it. I look forward to coming here – it is so lovely to come in and see the friends we’ve made. I had no clue about gardening when I came here. I take great pride in volunteering.
My highlights have been meeting people and getting on with people whilst gardening. And also sharing with others what we’ve done
It is always very therapeutic – no matter the weather
Kevin
It is wonderful to be working outside. Especially after lockdown, being outside here felt like a haven in the middle of the White City Estate.
People come here to talk as well. People all have their things but they are happy to share them. People really come out of their shell. .
One of the participants who comes here says that this garden “means everything to her.” It’s amazing to see people sharing and laughing. It’s such a diverse group of people, all coming together for the gardening and the art. It’s just brilliant.
Emily
Soup4Lunch uses the ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) model. This means operate with resources and ideas from local people and volunteers, utilising the expertise that we have in our own community. We try to re-use and recycle wherever possible, always considering the impact we make on the environment. We keep the gardens as wild as we can—paying close attention to wildlife and we continually assess our impact and outcomes.
WHITE CITY MEANWHILE GARDEN
COME INTO THE WILD
The White City Meanwhile Garden is a wild space that we have transformed using re-purposed and recycled materials to create raised beds and a greenhouse for growing vegetables and flowers.
It is a haven of wildlife activity in the middle of the bustling White City complex.
We conduct regular volunteer sessions open to the local community
Wednesday 11-1 Thursday 11-1.
And as advertised at the gate of the garden .
Contact soup4lunchgarden@gmail.com we will get back to you within 7 days
History
The Enterprise started activities through a partnership with Hammersmith Community Garden Association and registered as a Company Limited by Guaranty in December 2014. Support came from the People’s Health Trust, School for Social Entrepreneurs, UNLTD, Hammersmith & Fulham Council, Hammersmith United Charities, The Big Local W12, and Cultivate London, among others. Most recently we began a very successful partnership with Groundwork. Our programmes run across H&F and Hounslow, and we strive to stay small and local.
S4L has operated projects in sheltered housing in H&F since 2012:
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Sycamore House & John Betts House, Hammersmith United Charities
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Rowberry Close, Askham Court and other sheltered Housing Schemes across Hammersmith and Fulham
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Trillington House, Baths Court, Park Court and other Notting Hill Housing Genesis properties
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Salopian Garden, Isleworth, Hounslow in partnership with Cultivate London
S4L conducted weekly gardening, outdoor cooking and creative sessions fresh produce from the kitchen garden community events for the Cultivate London AGMs. The weekly participants came from local community centre groups and sheltered housing. Our Artist in the Garden, Emily Fuller and Older People’s art teacher Kathy Barker conducted creative sessions.
DONATE TO SOUP4LUNCH
Garden sessions focus on gardening, creativity and health and well-being. Community gardeners are there to help participants engage in self-directed activity and create a safe and inclusive space. We consider participants’ individual needs and gently lead group activities. We work together with local community organisations to gain insight into community needs and communicate about the Meanwhile Garden.
At the start of 2021 Soup4Lunch secured the license from Hammersmith and Fulham Council for the garden space behind the White City Community Centre to set up as a ‘Meanwhile Garden’. That spring a handful of volunteers working with Soup4Lunch started to transform the derelict garden space into a kitchen garden – clearing years of overgrowth and green waste. In September 2021, Groundwork London became a partner and jointly they have helped the community come together to grow food, meet in an outdoor environment and promoted positive mental health and wellbeing. We have been using recycled and re-used materials to create a space for people to reflect, learn, socialize and enjoy the produce of the garden with soups, salads, and other fresh vegetable meals.
