L-R: Mayor of Solihull Cllr Mrs Flo Nash, Age UK Solihull clients, Bill Kinsman, Barbara Kinsman and Vicky Spedding, and Age UK Solihull Fundraising Volunteer, Bob Fernie, make the first dig
Green fingered older people in Solihull now have a place to visit and do a spot of gardening thanks to Birmingham Business Park.
A new allotments area has recently been created at the business park, and Age UK Solihull have been allocated two of the six beds as the park’s Charity of the Year 2019.
Older people are able to visit the allotments as often as they like, growing vegetables with the support of on-site landscapers, and taking produce home with them.
The remaining four allotments have been sponsored by businesses on the site, for employees to visit on their breaks.
The allotments were officially opened by the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Mrs Flo Nash, on Tuesday (14 May 2019). She said, “To get out in the open is fantastic for our older people. This is a fantastic idea.”
Age UK Solihull’s Fundraising team, and service users Bill, Barbara and Vicky went along to the launch to see the allotments, meet the landscapers and get stuck in with some digging. The sun was out for the occasion and they all had a wonderful time.
The Business Park, located close to the NEC, is home to over 150 companies and over 8,000 employees and includes businesses such as Rolls Royce, BT, Changan, IMI and SSP.
Age UK Solihull’s Fundraising Manager, Lorraine Hart, said, “It is estimated that 4,000 over 65s in Solihull see themselves as intensely lonely. These allotments offer a fantastic opportunity for older people in Solihull to get out and connect with nature, be active and enjoy the company of others. Our clients thoroughly enjoyed the launch event, and we hope that more older people will visit the allotments throughout the year.”
Liz Allister, Park Development Manager at Birmingham Business Park said, “Our new Allotments are a wonderful opportunity for our Charity of the Year, Age UK Solihull, to fully engage in our wellbeing activities and join our community allotment club with our occupiers. As a Park we are proud of our links with local charities and local schools to fully engage and support our local community. This initiative is unique as it brings together our occupiers and local community in a beautiful environment with a common purpose.”
If you are over 50 and would like to tend the allotments, please call 0121 704 7842 or email: [email protected]. Tools and seeds are provided and the landscapers can tend to the beds in between visits. You will need to be able to make your own way to the Business Park.
