Here we grow! Museum opens allotment plots

NEW community allotments designed to boost health and wellbeing have been opened at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

- EMILY GRAY

The 12 allotment plots in the award-winning County Durham museum's 1950s Town will give people the chance to get involved in gardening, and experience its physical and mental health benefits.

Among those spending time on the plots will be people living with dementia or those who have additional needs, plus carers, local community groups, staff and volunteers.

The site, supported by funding from North East employer the Banks Group, will also deliver education programmes.

Beamish's Health and Wellbeing, Learning, and Gardens and Woodland Teams will lead activities from the allotments, while schoolchildren will learn gardening skills as part of activities focusing on the environment.

The project has received £19,944 from the Banks Community Fund, which has been used towards levelling the area, dividing it into plots, laying footpaths and erecting fencing.