Me and Adam had a valentines volenteering date with Big Local Gateshead, at their community allotment at Sandown allotment.

The community allotment is used by many different groups of people from school children to adult volunteers and over 55s, for the mental health benefits of gardening, growing plants and being outside. Over time the paths had become covered in weeds and less accessible so our task was to skim off the top layer ready for it to be resurfaced to be more wheelchair accessible.

Along with Big Local regulars we were digging out the top layer of the old path and putting it into wheelbarrows and once the skip was delivered lifting and tipping wheelbarrows contents into the skip.

While we worked we learnt about the work the Big Local do and herb hub and how they are growing herbs for good mental health. There was also plenty of tea/coffee, biscuits and fruit and even some lunch!

It was great seeing the difference we had made in two hours! If you are interested in helping out we are back to continue helping Big Local with their path resurfacing project next Thursday!