Everything’s coming up roses at community centre

By Barrie Hudson - 22 April 2022

CharityVolunteeringCommunity
  • Gardening at the community centre

    Gardening at the community centre

Visitors to the Eastcott Community Centre garden are promised a blooming beautiful summer.

  • The rose named in honour of John Ystumllyn

    The rose named in honour of John Ystumllyn

Volunteers have been weeding, digging and preparing the beds at the centre in Savernake Street, Swindon.

Their work included planting more than 15 bush and climbing rose plants donated by Bedfordshire-based Harkness Roses, as part of a scheme supplying 5,000 roses for community gardens all over Britain.

They included a rose named after a John Ystumllyn, an 18th century gardener who was abducted from West Africa, possibly as part of the slave trade, and lived in North Wales.

“We believe in the power of gardening to bring people together and want to make it more inclusive,” said a spokesman for the company.

“We hope this rose inspires people from all backgrounds to see gardening as a career or activity for them.”

Eastcott Community Organisation (ECO) is looking for more volunteers to help with gardening and welcomes people from all walks of life.

“We would welcome gardeners of any ability and experience, all backgrounds welcome,” said ECO co-chair Lauren Wallis. 

Anybody who would like to find out more about gardening with ECO is asked to email co-chair Stephanie Newtonat [email protected] or go along to one of the regular sessions held at the community centre on the last Sunday of every month from 2pm to 4pm.

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