Prenton club’s community garden grows
Prenton RUFC on the Wirral decided to turn a piece of scrubland near the first XV pitch into a community garden during the covid lockdown, giving neighbours with no gardens somewhere to enjoy outside space.
Some ten older club members, most of them retired, rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. And with twice weekly help from a group doing community service, the garden took shape and gave locals somewhere to plant flowers and vegetables or simply relax. The garden, opened by Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley, with continuing support from local councillors, has been awarded by the RHS the top level 5 outstanding for the past two years. The club continued to expand into local woodland and an area was created, with the help of a local schoolboy doing his Duke of Edinburgh award, for the use of kids at holiday activity clubs.
As a couple of those on community service pitched up to play, local schoolchildren arrived on school visits and for holiday activity. Prenton only set up a junior section a couple of years ago, so this has helped introduce youngsters to the club. One of Prenton’s coaches has also been coaching at the local high school and junior school.
Expanding nature reserve
Now Prenton RUFC are in discussion with the National Grid with the aim of having a ten-year lease to continue their fantastic environmental community work. They have plans to make accessible paths and clear ponds as the nature reserve grows and gains popularity, helping the local community’s physical and mental wellbeing, discussions are ongoing with walking groups, eco schools heads and volunteer groups, all interested in using the club as a base,
Currently, alongside growing their age group teams which now benefit from a link with the neighbouring Wallasey and Oldershaw clubs, Prenton are planning to become a community hub and are seeking grants and funding to upgrade the existing clubhouse. They are already playing a huge part in their local community and were supporting a hamper delivery over Christmas. They have also used the club's facilities to host meetings for the local Ukrainian community as a social hub and welcomed them with open arms.
Bill Sweeney, the RFU’s Chief Executive, has paid a couple of visits to the club and says: “Prenton is a great example of a club at the heart of their local community. While expanding their rugby to introduce youngsters to the sport, they are also creating a fantastic environment where the local community can walk, relax, or grow vegetables and flowers. Spending time in green space and nature can benefit people’s mental and physical wellbeing, while gardening and exercising outdoors can have lots of positive effects. Whenever I visit Prenton I am always impressed and energised by what is being developed around a rugby club for the benefit of their community, it is an inspirational and remarkable place.”
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