Worms are latest recruits on Sheffield charity allotment

Hope Community Allotment, a registered charity in Shiregreen which offers peaceful community plots for local residents to maintain, has a new on-site wormery, thanks to funding from Sanctuary Housing.

It is celebrating its productivity as part of National Allotments Week.

Their facility uses worms to produce all-natural, cost-effective compost that is ideal for fruit and vegetables. it is all made from organic waste that volunteers and allotment-users feed in to the wormery.

Staff and volunteers demonstrate the role of worms in renewing soil to local people, and work with the users to help develop gardening skills and build self-confidence.

Additional funding from Sanctuary will help to upgrade raised beds at the allotments.

Melanie King, neighbourhood partnerships manager for Sanctuary, said: “Hope Community Allotment offers an invaluable resource as a place to meet new people, as well as to pick up gardening hints and tips.”

Hope Community Allotment’s treasurer, Sheena Clarke, added: “We are always keen to get the local community involved. People who work here do an amazing job of maintaining the allotments, and I would encourage anyone who has a few hours spare to com and learn more about growing organic fruit and vegetables. An added bonus is that we share what we grow.”

Sessions take place at Hope Community Allotment on Mondays and Thursdays from 9.30am-1.30pm, Wednesdays 10.30am-2pm and Saturdays from 10am-1pm, and cost £1 to join in. If you are interested in volunteering, call 0114 244 3357.