Millard Terrace garden project
On 14th November the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Tenants Participation Team, along with council staff, and the Millard Kids Club met with Susanna Wallis from Growing Communities Dagenham Starter Farm to launch a new project on the estate.
The project will look to provide raised beds, planters, fruit trees and much more in a designated area of the estate. The object is to provide the children with hands on and fun experience of sustainability. Gaining new skills and learning about growing fruit and vegetables.
Initially the project is looking to launch in the new year with green houses and pots being provided by Barking and Dagenham Council so that the children can get started straight away.
All of the children from the estate were extremely excited and are already making lists of what they want to grow, as they will get the deciding vote! Strawberries, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli and many more healthy organic items were on the list. This is a fantastic opportunity for the children of Millard Terrace to learn about healthy eating and the eventual plan is to provide the whole estate with fresh produce.
The estate has come a long way in the past few years, with regeneration projects bringing the homes in line with British housing standards. Many of the flats have been rewired, double glazed and have undergone major works to bring them up to standard. The work has made a huge and visible impact on living standards, and this new garden project can only help to build on the improvements.
Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham and Rainham will be following this project through its development.