The award-winning community garden has been helping gardens and souls grow for a decade.

Tucked away off one of Sunderland’s busiest roads is a peaceful haven where green fingers of all ages can have a go at gardening.

Just Let Your Soul Grow encourages people of all ages to have a go at gardening | Sunderland Echo

placeholder image — Just Let Your Soul Grow encourages people of all ages to have a go at gardening | Sunderland Echo

This summer marked 10 years since seeds were first sown at under-utilised allotment space off Thompson Road, Southwick, to create Just Let Your Soul Grow.

The community interest company (CIC) has thrived in that time, becoming an award-winning project which harnesses the power of Mother Nature to educate people about the natural world around them, whilst bringing people from all walks of life together.

I went along to the tranquil spot for one of its autumn seed planting sessions, led by Jenny Weeks, community growing educator at the project, who started visiting the play group as a mum and now passes skills on to others.

Budding green fingers of all ages were at the session to learn about what hardy vegetables and herbs can be grown in autumn, such as radish, spinach, lettuce and herbs such as rosemary and thyme.

People can choose to take the seeds home or they can sow them in the beds in the community garden and return at weekly drop ins to watch them grow.

Community gardening educator Jenny Weeks, right, with young participants Lydia and Silvana at an autumn seeding day | Sunderland Echo

“It’s their space as much as anyone else’s, this garden is for the whole of Sunderland,” explained Jenny. “It’s incredible to see their faces when they return, to see what they’ve grown, it’s so rewarding.”

It’s one of many sessions held at the green space.

“It’s about giving people really easy knowledge about which seeds are best to sow in September and October, which is actually known as the second spring,” said Jenny.

Lydia, nine, was one of the participants at the autumn session.

“Today, I’ve planted daffodils, a radish and purply, white and yellow flowers,” she said. “I’ve learnt a lot about gardening and would definitely come again.”

Green-fingered Lydia, nine, enjoys taking part in planting sessions in the garden | Sunderland Echo

Even if you have no gardening experience, the project encourages people to turn over a new leaf with its sessions and workshops which promote food sustainability, ‘eco therapy’ and intergenerational gardening to help reduce social isolation.

The community garden, which you may also have spotted out and about at events through its outreach programme, was recently awarded funding by Sunderland City Council to run drop-in sessions for families.

It also means people have more access to seeds from the project’s community seed library, which distributes free seeds for people to plant at home, as well as its community tool and planter library, which was launched over the summer.

The funding will also see a new all-weather cabin installed on the site later this year, which means they can offer more activities in the colder months.

All ages took part in the autumn seed planting day | Sunderland Echo

Speaking about the new tool and planter library, Jenny said: “It’s for anybody who wants to have a go at growing, but doesn’t want to invest in expensive tools and planters. They can come and put down a tiny deposit, borrow our small planters to take home or leave here and they can come back every week to check on their own crops or take the tools home just to do some gardening.

“They can then bring it back to the garden, share with their neighbours and family and community and get their deposit back. It’s saving waste, it’s saving money and it’s bringing people together.”

The garden works on a permaculture principle, working with nature rather than against it and it’s a skill they teach beyond the gardens’ beds.

The Just Let Your Soul Grow community garden is on Thompson Road, Southwick | Sunderland Echo

Jenny and other team members visit food markets and schools in and around Sunderland with the travelling seed library to teach people how they can work alongside Mother Nature at home.

“We know that a huge barrier for people is finance and travel, so we go to schools and markets around the city and beyond to make sure everyone gets to use the seed library even if they can’t get to the garden.”

For more information on Just Let Your Soul Grow visit https://www.justletyoursoulgrow.co.uk/