Posted: 23/04/18
The perfect patch at West Notts
The spades and forks will be turning over a special patch of land at West Nottinghamshire College’s Derby Road campus in the coming weeks.
The college’s latest environmental and sustainability allotment project known at The Patch will encourage students to improve their gardening skills with growing fruit, vegetables and flowers and then use their entrepreneurial skills to develop and sell the produce.
A Level students visited The Patch on Thursday (19 April) for the first time, to set up a polythene growing tunnel, which has been pegged down ready for digging out the grass inside. Learners also gathered the tools and starter packs of vegetable which they are hoping to grow inside the tunnel.
The project has been funded courtesy of the National Union of Students which has provided £500 towards the allotment, which will also feature flower beds, low level fencing, vegetables, growing poles and a solar-powered water sprinkling system.
Student experience team leader Robert Pearce said: “We’re really looking forward to cultivating this little used piece of grassland and believe this will be the start of a really enterprising project.
“We will be opening up The Patch to all areas of the college. Anyone can book in with us to help and getting something out of creating a wonderful space for nature and growth or create their very own floristry or grocery business.
“It will be hard work but very much worth it once students see the fruits of their labour. Not only will it be educational in terms of learning about different plants and vegetables and how they grow and thrive but an incredible way of connecting with like-minded people and putting in their volunteering hours."
During the week commencing 23 April, public services students will be getting to grips with digging out The Patch, ready for the first plants and seeds which will include tomatoes, asparagus, onions, carrots, lettuce and broccoli.
