Last Thursday, Dr Ellie Chowns, the Green Party MEP for the West Midlands, visited Jasmine Road Community Gardens in Dudley to help celebrate National Allotments Week.

Volunteers gave Ellie a guided tour of the garden, where she met allotment holders and even tasted some of their delicious beans and tomatoes! Ellie said, “This garden is a wonderful project with a great sense of community. It’s a real oasis of peace, but it’s also buzzing with activity – people digging out a pond, weeding, harvesting, cooking, feeding the chickens… Getting out in the fresh air and growing fruit, veg and flowers is such a healthy and fun thing to do – especially in a community garden like this where everyone is welcome!

“People can get involved in all sorts of joint projects, like creating the new pond and wildlife area, or building the new volunteer kitchen. Or they can just take on an allotment of their own to grow whatever they like. There’s something for everyone at Jasmine Gardens!”

The one-acre site features three polytunnels, a community house, picnic area, orchard and children’s garden. The project runs children’s craft activities, and volunteers share meals together. Allotment holders share advice on the latest growing methods, and nothing goes to waste: for example, pallets & oil drums are ‘up-cycled’ into planters and tables.

“I would encourage anyone who is interested in getting involved in this wonderful project to get in touch with Jasmine Road Community Gardens via their website, jasmineroadgardens.org, or go along to one of their many events.”

Ellie, who was elected at the end of May, is spending the whole month of August getting out and about and meeting with people from all across the region, while the European Parliament is on its summer break.

Photo: from left to right: Jasmine Road Community Gardens volunteers Kayleigh Mills (Chair of Trustees), Mary Goodman, volunteer, Jackie Careless, support worker, and Dr Ellie Chowns MEP.