Community gardening programme enters final phase at Memorial Park
Residents of Luton are being encouraged to take part in free gardening activities at Memorial Park as Groundwork East brings its three-year community wellbeing project towards its final months. Backed by the Luton Rising Community Investment Fund, the programme aims to teach practical growing skills, promote outdoor activity and strengthen local connections.
The offer includes regular, drop-in sessions for families and community gardening activities that are free to attend and run by Groundwork East volunteers and staff. Sessions are designed to help people learn how to grow fruit and vegetables and create wildlife-friendly features within the park’s community space.
“It has been brilliant to see people using the garden, learning new skills and enjoying time outdoors. What we would really love is for more families and adults to come along to the community gardening and family sessions in this final stage,” said Kealey Henderson, project lead at Groundwork East.
Kealey Henderson highlighted the social as well as practical benefits of the project, noting that existing regulars have formed a friendly group but that organisers would like to encourage more people to join.
When and where
The sessions are scheduled at Memorial Park and are open to all. Details are:
- Family sessions: Wednesdays (free, suitable for families)
- Community gardening: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00–12:30
| Type | Day(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Family sessions | Wednesdays | Varies — free ticket available |
| Community gardening | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 11:00–12:30 |
All materials for the activities are provided, and the sessions are described as friendly and informal. The project also builds on Groundwork East’s community food hub work at Memorial Park, where people have been able to grow and share produce and access information on healthier lifestyles.
Why it matters locally
The initiative contributes to several local priorities: improving access to green spaces, supporting community wellbeing, and offering free, practical skills that can help households with food growing and healthy living. For families, it provides a supervised outdoor activity that combines learning with fresh air and social contact.
Organisers are urging anyone who is curious to come along and try the sessions during this concluding stage of the programme. A free ticketing option is available for the family events to help planners manage numbers.
People interested in attending should look for more information through Groundwork East or local community channels for updates on exact dates and any changes to the timetable.
