Residents at Bensham Court in central Gateshead now have access to a new community garden, providing a dedicated green space for growing produce and social gatherings. The project was created through a partnership between Gateshead Council and local community groups, offering a place for tenants to garden and connect with neighbours.
The new garden is part of a wider push to support food growing across the local area. Support for this space has come from the Royal Horticultural Society, which has been helping community organisations share gardening skills and ideas. The initiative also links into the local Bensham Bites partnership, a network of community groups working together to support food access and community wellbeing.
Funding for the garden was made possible through local investment, including the Community Capital Grants Programme, which is managed by the council to improve community spaces. This effort aligns with the council’s broader work to encourage neighbourhood improvements across the borough.
The space is expected to be a welcome addition for the residents of the sheltered housing tower, which was built in 1963. It joins other local gardening efforts, such as the Herb Hub, a project run by Big Local Gateshead that focuses on herb horticulture and building connections within the community.
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