Rawmarsh community allotment project flourishes

When former youth worker Mike Horne invited neuro-diverse people to join him in transforming a “jungle” a year ago, he hardly imagined they would have come so far so soon.

After the ground was reclaimed from the weeds, there are now a clutch of regulars looking after the site at Vesey Street allotments.

The project has thrived so well Mike, who runs nine different activities through Rotherham Adult Neurodiversity Support Service, even successfully applied to take on an extra plot.

Up to ten of his clients, many of whom have self-referred, spend Wednesday afternoons hard at work on the allotment, doing everything from clearing scrubland and planting to laying the groundwork for new growing beds.

“It started off with a couple of people, but then a lot said they wanted to do it,” he said.

“It began as two jungle plots and it was head high weeds but we got on top of them really quickly.

“Cllr Jill Thompson helped us out with funding from her devolved budget.

“We have two shed structures and have bought a polytunnel, which has taken it to the next level.

“We took on the plot next door, so we have three decent-sized plots.”

Mike added: “We’ve been meeting once a week for a year and it’s amazing considering where we started.

“We have four raised beds and we’re growing onions, potatoes, tomatoes, spring onions, sweetcorns and even some fruit trees. I’d like to have a bit of an orchard.

“We also have a beehive which survived the winter, so we’re planning to extend that area with two more

“It’s really gone better than I could have imagined.”

Mike added: “It was difficult when we first took it on as there was a lot of work involved and some people turned up and realised it was a lot of labour.

“But since we have got on top of things, it’s just fun and activities.

“We have a regular group of ten with carers and some of them come on their own.

“We have a couple of older chaps who have a history of struggling with their mental health and they said it has taken their mind off thinking about that.”

Mike said he was learning as he goes - “We can have two legs but not for - so chickens are OK, but no pigs” – but RANSS were getting by with a little help from their friends, even when it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

“We were sadly robbed three times last year and on one occasion they took a toolbox, but a company called Roofing Solutions came down and donated a new toolbox,” said Mike.

“The support we’ve had from the community has been pretty impressive.

“They’ve given us hundreds of plant pots and other gardening equipment.

“We get a lot of help and advice from other allotment holders, while one lady who stables her horses at Wentworth is providing us with loads of manure.

“The allotments are like a utopia - there’s such a sense of community and people wanting to share things and help each other out.”

Search for “RANSS Rotherham” online to find out more.​