SLH Raised Beds

Our Raised Bed Projects

Our projects around the Heatons run by the SLH Planting and Growing group are aimed at:

  • Encouraging us all to grow our own fresh produce at home or on an allotment
  • Providing a (very small) example of free pick-me herbs, fruit and vegetables
  • Improving the look of the area
  • Creating a talking point and encouraging social interaction

Some of our projects are on common land and some on accessible private land. To create these new areas and maintain exiting ones, SLH working groups are active from time to time; look out for future emails. Various members of the group have attended training courses on for example, fruit-tree pruning, wildflower growing, hedge-laying and risk assessment; look out for future courses.

Blue Corn

The herb bed near Blue Corn at the Moor Top shops was the first constructed and planted up in 2013 and has proved a popular source of various herbs and veg for several years.

Heatons Library

At the Heatons library an existing brick-built, raised bed by the front entrance had the prickly pyracantha replaced with a variety of vegetables and herbs. As they ripen, they are free for locals to pick and use the fresh produce.

Heatons Library (Rear)

At the back between the library building and the car park, 2 apple trees—a cooker and an eater—were planted by local scholars. It was an enjoyable learning event for them and the trees have already produced a small crop in their first year.

St Paul's

The small raised bed created by SLH at St Paul’s pre-school, near the back of the church hall in early 2015 was provided for the children there to learn about, and to have fun growing, their own food. They have sown or planted all the fruit and vegetables themselves, sowing seeds ranging in sizes from lettuce to potatoes. They also pick the produce as it is ready, and them taking this home has encouraged some of the children’s families to grow their own.