Community Weekend at Galsworthy Close

8th September 09

Residents at Galsworthy Close, a Sanctuary Shaftesbury housing estate in Swindon, have been learning how to live ‘the good life’ at their Community Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

Sanctuary Shaftesbury, a member of leading UK housing provider Sanctuary Group, contributed £1,800 towards the event which celebrated healthy eating and encouraged residents to become more self-sufficient by growing their own vegetables and learning DIY skills.

To launch the weekend there was a demonstration by Education Networks, on how to grow your own herbs and vegetables, with residents encouraged to participate in planting carrots and potatoes. This was followed by a demonstration on how to create a tasty homemade vegetable soup.

Sunday gave residents the chance to flex their DIY muscles, with an interactive presentation putting up shelves and decorating a false wall. A barbeque and children’s activities including face painting and bird box painting, rounded off the event.

Local resident, Mrs Bradford said: “Today was great, I've learnt how to cook soup and grow vegetables properly. You're never too old to learn and it was great to see the children get involved."

Peter Brierley, Sanctuary Shaftesbury’s community development officer said: “Lots of our residents express an interest in learning new skills and this seemed to be an ideal way to bring the neighbourhood together and develop their skills at the same time.”