The Growing Project: How JMSU is developing Liverpool's green spaces
JMSU is incredibly excited to introduce you all to The Growing Project! As a result of 2 successful funding bids from the Liverpool City Region's Community Environment Fund, we have been granted a sum of money to develop 3 growing sites across the city, including Kensington Fields Community Centre, the Henry Cotton Building and the brand new Student Life Building on Copperas Hill. Winning this bid is an incredible achievement for JMSU and our Sustainability Champions for a few reasons, namely the opportunity this provides for us to continue our work on sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment.
Kensington Fields Community Centre:
Kensignton Fields will be the main site, with a focus on growing fruit and veg for the community to grow and enjoy together. There will be a composting facility, with lots of opportunities for students and residents to shape the space together. Thanks so much to KFCA and Becky Peach at Metal for working together with us on getting this project started, things are in full swing right now as we prepare to plant our seedlings at the end of this month.
Henry Cotton Building:
Since the demolition of the Byrom Street flyover, the space outside the LJMU Henry Cotton Building is very visible and accessible, the perfect spot for us to start planting some flowers! This site will have a focus on wilding and pollination, so lots of bee-loving wildflowers and plenty of colour to brighten up the space! Bees are so vitally important to our ecosystem and crop growth, so it is just as important for us to provide spaces for them to access pollen in an increasingly industrial city.
Student Life Building:
The brand new development on Copperas Hill will be the new home of JMSU, and the home of our third site, which will have a focus on wellbeing. Being close to nature generally improves mental wellbeing, but this garden will feature lots of sensory herbs and flowers with calming effects.
Our amazing team of Sustainability Champion volunteers will be involved in the planning, running and maintenance of these spaces, as well as the progression of our Sustainability Action Plan.
Dates to get involved:
Every Wednesday at 1pm at Kensington Fields Community Centre.
For more info or to get involved, contact Caitlin on c.a.hare@ljmu.ac.uk.
For updates, you can join the Facebook group: The Growing Project.
