News Item

150 Bootle families now involved in grow-your-own project

An innovative environmental project has now helped 150 Bootle families to create ‘mini farms’ in the front yards of their homes.

Households across the town have enthusiastically joined the Community Growing Circle project which was set up in 2021 by the Taking Root in Bootle community gardening network.

The aim of the project is to link at-home food growing by local people with community composting facilities in the area to create a circular green ‘loop’.

Using the small growing spaces at the front of houses means that families have fresh produce literally on their doorstep, an important factor in good health and wellbeing.

In addition, organisers say that the creation of a network of growing sites along terraced house fronts is increasing biodiversity, supporting a variety of invertebrate wildlife, providing a mix of fruit and vegetable flowers for pollinators and substantially increasing resting points for bees and other insects.

Other benefits include plant absorption of water during periods of heavy rain, and heat in the summer, in what are heavily paved and built-up areas.

The project now co-ordinates four growing circles in Bootle. The first two were established in 2021 with the help of a grant from the Liverpool City Region Community Environment Fund, established by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.

The success of these two circles resulted in two more being established in 2022. The third involves households from the so-called ‘Poets Streets’ area of the town, set up with support from the National Lottery Community Fund’s Together for our Planet programme.

The fourth circle is focused on the Woodlands Road area, created with support from the Church Ward councillors.

In each case families have received a front yard growing starter kit to enable them to plant a wide variety of produce including lettuces, spring onions, tomatoes, green beans, carrots, courgettes, raspberries and strawberries.

Some mini farms are even home to dwarf varieties of fruit tree producing apples, pears, plums and cherries.

Residents involved in the project appreciate that growing at home has a positive impact on climate change by reducing  food miles, packaging and waste.

One Growing Circle member, Pete, commented: “There is a real sense of wellbeing and ‘doing your bit’ for the planet every time I take my compost to the community compost bays.”

Another member, Sam, pointed out how enjoyable growing can be: “I have had so much fun growing my veg. At the start I didn’t think I would be able to, as I usually can’t grow anything.”

Looking back at the success of the project Ruth Livesey of Bootle-based social enterprise Regenerus, who

co-ordinates Taking Root, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have reached the 150-household milestone. 

“The circular approach we have developed in Bootle is designed to highlight the food and waste possibilities that exist in small spaces.

“By using these unlikely growing spaces in front of residents’ homes we are enhancing biodiversity and creating greener communities,” added Ruth.