Help give Ravenscourt Park glasshouses a modern-day makeover

Residents still have time to help a Hammersmith horticultural charity give Ravenscourt Park’s glasshouses a modern-day makeover.

A Hammersmith horticultural charity is aiming to give Ravenscourt Park’s glasshouses a modern-day makeover.

The Hammersmith Community Gardens Association (HCGA) was given an award last year for its ‘outstanding’ community horticulture work in the glasshouses, which lie in the park’s north-east corner.

However, for the association to build on its brilliant work, the dated glasshouses need to be modernise. So it launched a fundraiser to help. More than £104,000 has been pledged so far including a donation of £20,000 from the council. The group has achieved 92 per cent of its target, with just £8,000 left to raise.

“The HCGA do some brilliant work with the local community and deserve every success with this fundraiser,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment.

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Growing with the community

Control of the glasshouses was handed from the council to the association, where its team of green-fingered volunteers run a range of courses to help the community. An extra-long lease was granted by the council as part of its commitment to the HCGA and its work. While they've been working there, residents from all walks of life have dropped in to learn gardening and other useful life skills.

“We really appreciate everyone’s help with this,” said Katie Shaw, of the HCGA.

“It doesn't matter how much people pledge.”

HCGA’s community work in the glasshouses was hailed as ‘outstanding’ at the 2018 Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ Awards.

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Interior of one of the Ravenscourt Park glasshouses

Improvements for all

The glasshouses were built in the 1960s, but now need an overhaul for modern use. For example, in the winter months, some of the HCGA’s activities, such as their ‘grow well’ class for people with dementia, long-term health needs and their carers, have had to be moved due to it being too cold inside.

Range of activities

Beyond helping people hone their green fingers, the HCGA hosts a twice-weekly pop-up yoga class in the summer months, along with various seasonal workshops.

They also run a ‘Men in Sheds’ group; and ‘Get Out There’, an environmental conservation programme. The association is actively looking to recruit new participants for both these groups

An introduction to garden volunteering workshop is held on the first Wednesday of every month starting at 10am. For more details email katie@hcga.org.uk

To help with the HCGA’s glasshouse fundraising, please pledge before 12 August.

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