New community garden facilities for County Durham charity
Written by Grace Genevieve Stewart-Piercy on 8th May 2025
A County Durham charity is expanding resources in its community garden for the benefit of residents.
Shildon Alive, which supports people in the community with wellbeing, low income and food insecurity, received a new shed, in a partnership with the charity Cornerstone.
Cornerstone are a North East charity which supports homeless people, running workshops where service users can volunteer to make benches, tables, sheds and other items.
Fay, 51, a service user and volunteer, said: “We know that we have a family here; everyone is welcoming.”
The shed, built by Cornerstone, will take on the role of a summerhouse area, somewhere parents of young children can relax while they play in the community garden, as well as giving volunteers a place to gather in poor weather.
Shildon Alive’s community garden is available for all to enjoy and is aimed at people who may not have a garden, want to enjoy gardening with other people or to learn more about the process that gets food from the ground to their plate.
The community garden is “for everyone” and described as a “pantry” that people are free to use whenever they like.
