Designed to help boost the local economy, GWR invited bids from its Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) last Summer, and today we are one of Bristol area winners to have been revealed, including funding for a community food growing and learning space.

Welcoming the award Severnside Community Rail Partnership’s Heather Cullimore said:

“We are delighted to be a recipient of the GWR Customers and Communities Improvement Fund. The award enables the Severnside Community Rail Partnership to expand our successful partnership with Incredible Edible Bristol for the development of a new community food growing and learning space on a disused part of the platform at Avonmouth station. 

“The garden will be tended by volunteers and produce shared with members of the community most in need via the North Bristol Foodbank and the Avonmouth lunch club. We aim to help build food security by creating a horticultural learning environment where the local community will be supported to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs and experience the associated benefits to their health and wellbeing.”

Bristol North West MP Darren Jones said:

“It’s great news that Avonmouth Station has been awarded funding to become a food growing and learning centre. It’s even better to hear that the produce grown will be shared with residents via the excellent community centre’s lunch club, homeless shelters and the local foodbank.

“These organisations work incredibly hard and their services are in great demand – anything that helps gets healthy food to vulnerable residents is to be welcomed. Well done to all involved.”

This project will enable young people, mums and toddlers and those at risk of isolation to get involved in a dynamic food growing and gardening project that will turn a lost and unloved space into a vibrant, productive and beautiful garden. We are thrilled to be able to continue our work in Avonmouth and with Severnside Community Rail Partnership with this garden!