Green Guardian
Disadvantaged brought together in green cause
Dignitaries from Merton and Wandsworth were expected at Deen City Farm in Merton Abbey Mills this week, to pay tribute to two green projects that are helping bring the community together.
For the past 18 months disabled individuals from ethnic minority groups and refugees in the borough have been working together on an allotment at the farm.
The project is part of the Placemakers and Working Together initiative run by environmental group Groundwork Merton.
By engaging with the environment, the scheme, funded by the Home Office and Bridge House Estates, aims to bring disadvantaged people together by working to improve local green spaces.
Rachel England from Groundwork, who has been involved with both Working Together and Placemakers, said: "It is amazing to see people from all age groups, abilities and ethnicities work together, getting their hands dirty and learning new skills.
"Communication has never been an issue, despite working with many participants who speak very little English.
"When you're working with practical things, digging and planting, it just doesn't seem to matter that you don't speak the same language."
Users of the Sanon Centre in Mitcham, which helps people with mental health issues from ethnic minorities, and refugees supported by Asylum Welcome Merton have been putting their green fingers to good use.
Krishna Singh, one of the participants in the Working Together Project, said: "It's fun, relaxing and therapeutic. I enjoy the fresh air and being outdoors.
"Planting things and watching them grow is satisfying, it's an achievement."
3:17pm Thursday 13th March 2008
Print 
Email this 
Comment
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
