Gardening competition entry morphs into community venture

A project to re-wild a patch of neglected land to create a butterfly sanctuary as part of a gardening competition has blossomed into a full-blown community project. 

The project, in Somerset, was initially an idea by a team from Lifeways which runs a supported living service for people with autism, learning difficulties and acquired brain injuries in Langport. 

They wanted to re-wild the land to create a butterfly patch as their entry to the company’s UK-wide Blooming Good Time competition. 

But as the work began, service manager Amy Stephenson had an idea to ask a local day care provider, Able2Achieve, if they wanted the people they support to also get involved. She was delighted when they agreed. 

Now, Lifeways and Able2Achieve are working side-by-side through the winter and into the spring to cut back and re-seed the land. 

‘It’s been amazing’ 

Amy Stephenson, service manager for Lifeways, said: “It’s been amazing. What was going to be our re-wilding entry for Lifeways’ Blooming Good Time competition has become a partnership that's lasting through the winter and into Spring. 

“The people we support have loved working with our team and the team from Able2Achieve and some brilliant connections have formed as a result.  

“It will be great to see the transformation over the coming months and a wild butterfly patch is the aim. It's so great to join up with community projects.” 

Joe Knights is a Learning Manager at Able2Achieve. He said: “At a2a, we are always looking for ways to shine a light on the ability of our learners, instead of the disability. 

“Environmental work has aligned well with our community-focused outcomes and the team enjoys going out to help manage local green spaces, using a mixture of modern and traditional methods such as hand scything.  

‘A vital network’ 

“The Lifeways meadow will become part of a vital network of green spaces that benefit both nature and the people accessing them.” 

He added: “Most importantly, our Learners were happy that they could help others and leave another part of Somerset a little wilder than before.” 

The gardening competition is run annually by Lifeways, the UK’s largest team of professionals providing support for adults in the community, to teach the people we support important team-working and environmental skills as well as creating a sense of achievement and independence. 

‘Splashes of colour’ 

Heather Wright, Lifeways’ Group Head of Health & Safety who ran the Bloom competition, said: “This is just such an amazing story to come out of our gardening competition. The idea behind Blooming Good Time has several layers. It gave the people we support the chance to learn new skills, it added splashes of colour to our services and it aligns so well with our environmental commitments. 

“To see this collaboration with other providers grow from our competition is a real added benefit and something which we are proud to be involved in.” 

About Lifeways:

Lifeways is the UK’s largest team of support professionals providing support for adults in the community.

We support adults with diverse and complex needs, including learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and mental health conditions.

Find out more about how we change people's lives at: www.lifeways.co.uk  

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