Community garden gets a makeover

Students and Exeter residents have joined forces to reinvigorate an area of land near their homes.

Led by a charity and supported by the University and Students’ Guild, the work is improving the Queens Crescent area in the heart of the St James Ward, which has long been a popular place for students to live.

Our Community Liaison Officer Rory Cunningham was involved with coordinating the efforts and has said: “Helping to rejuvenate the Queens Crescent space has provided an excellent opportunity to bring students, staff and local residents together to showcase our volunteering commitment.

This much underused space is very precious and we will be meeting with members of the Exeter St James Forum soon to discuss ways to improve the space over the long term. Many residents have already fed back how positive it is to see new planting and bird boxes in the Crescent.”

The Crescent had already benefitted from a series of gardening days organised by local food-growing charity ‘Harvest’ with help from volunteers from the Students’ Guild Community Action team.

Over the next few months Student Community Wardens will be working with Harvest to co-ordinate further volunteering days for Exeter students and staff.

The project is also tying in with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Date: 26 April 2012