July 2019

Community gardeners in Bootle have had a busy summer, led by the Taking Root in Bootle network facilitated by Regenerus and supported by Well Sefton, Sefton Council.

Going from strength to strength our community gardeners decided to take on the challenge of RHS Tatton, working together to create and build a garden to tell the story of community growing in Bootle and promote the value of community spaces in Sefton Council’s Year of Friendship.

The Taking Root in Bootle display was entered into the ‘Blooming Borders ‘ category and was a representation of a typical community garden in Bootle. Designed by Christine Leung of Lotus Brook, the Taking Root entry demonstrated how community gardens in an urban environment play a key role in biodiversity.

Organised by Taking Root Co-ordinators, local social enterprises Lotus Brook and The Gateway Collective, the team of community gardeners, led by the dedicated community growers from St Leonard’s Youth & Community Centre, with the back-up of Netherton Community Garden, the Friends of South Park and North Park, used recycled materials and have been working since February to grow the flowers needed to create an amazing floral display and create eye-catching structures for the border.

And the hard work has really paid off as the highlight of the summer has been winning Gold at the RHS Tatton flower show.

The Taking Root in Bootle entry received high praise from the judges and was even featured on TV on BBC 2.