New community gardens have opened at Newham Grange Farm to get people involved in "getting fit, socialising and growing healthy food".
The new facility has been created at the Coulby Newham Farm over the summer and now local community groups are wanted to use the growing facility.
It benefits from a number of accessible-to-all raised beds ready to be planted in by groups while the wider area has picnic benches and an orchard.
The area had previously become overgrown but has now been cleared by a group of volunteers including the Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, Coulby Newham Councillor David Branson and members of the public with assistance from Middlesbrough Council staff.
On a visit to the community gardens, Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "People getting fit, socialising and growing healthy food is a fantastic step forward and I would like to see community groups now get in touch and show willingness to take over part of the growing area."
Cllr Branson said: "This is a good scheme to make the area look better and it also provides opportunity for community groups to get involved in this kind of thing.
"I would like to thank Area Care for getting this organised and the Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club whose members came along and did a lot of the work to get it looking good. It would be great to see other projects like this across Middlesbrough."
Dave Whittaker, from Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, added: "We have been looking for community jobs that need doing - that's what Rotary is about, giving back to the local area
"Anything that needs a bit of work rejuvenating or a tidy up, we're happy to help out if it helps the community. This is excellent."
Any community groups interested in using the new community gardens at Newham Grange Leisure Farm should contact Middlesbrough Council's Open Spaces General Manager Craig Holmes at craig_holmes@middlesbrough.gov.uk.
The new facility has been created at the Coulby Newham Farm over the summer and now local community groups are wanted to use the growing facility.
It benefits from a number of accessible-to-all raised beds ready to be planted in by groups while the wider area has picnic benches and an orchard.
The area had previously become overgrown but has now been cleared by a group of volunteers including the Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, Coulby Newham Councillor David Branson and members of the public with assistance from Middlesbrough Council staff.
On a visit to the community gardens, Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "People getting fit, socialising and growing healthy food is a fantastic step forward and I would like to see community groups now get in touch and show willingness to take over part of the growing area."
Cllr Branson said: "This is a good scheme to make the area look better and it also provides opportunity for community groups to get involved in this kind of thing.
"I would like to thank Area Care for getting this organised and the Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club whose members came along and did a lot of the work to get it looking good. It would be great to see other projects like this across Middlesbrough."
Dave Whittaker, from Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, added: "We have been looking for community jobs that need doing - that's what Rotary is about, giving back to the local area
"Anything that needs a bit of work rejuvenating or a tidy up, we're happy to help out if it helps the community. This is excellent."
Any community groups interested in using the new community gardens at Newham Grange Leisure Farm should contact Middlesbrough Council's Open Spaces General Manager Craig Holmes at craig_holmes@middlesbrough.gov.uk.