Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT) is launching an exciting new project in partnership with Healthy Living Centre Dartford to create some community allotment space on the Darent Valley Hospital site.
The project will encourage green-fingered, volunteer members of staff, patients and local residents to nurture allotments that will eventually supply produce for a range of healthy eating and health promotion schemes within the hospital and beyond.
The project is officially launching at 10:30am on Saturday 19 August with volunteers from the Trust and Healthy Living Centre Dartford digging for approximately three hours to prepare the allotment space.
All the equipment that will be used is being supplied by charity partners and sponsors. The Trust would like to thank Medirest who are providing refreshments for the volunteers at the launch event and AP Construction who have generously funded the wooden tool store.
Once the space is ready, members of the community will be regularly invited to tend to the allotments to help grow and yield fresh fruit and vegetables.
Speaking about the initiative, DGT’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Alexandra Bode-Tunji said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Healthy Living Centre Dartford on this exciting, holistic project. Engaging with members of our local community forms an integral part of our Trust strategy and we hope that the initiative will not only cultivate nutritious, sustainable produce but also enable meaningful and collaborative relationships amongst our staff, patients and local residents to flourish.”
The Trust is very much looking forward to the official launch on Saturday and will be inviting local volunteers to our allotment in due course.
Should any local businesses be interested in sponsoring any elements of the project, please contact Moira Mitchell, Head of Engagement, Experience and Inclusion at moira.mitchell4@nhs.net