Hove community garden gets renovation ahead of jubilee

Residents and volunteers of the Waterloo Street Community Garden in Hove had planned to fundraise at their Big Jubilee Lunch to give the gardens a new lease of life after recent building works damaged the surrounds.

However, in a project funded and led by PG Tips in partnership with Eden Project, the garden got a much-needed ‘tea-fresh’ by making improvements the local community had planned, allowing all of their proceeds to be used to maintain the space.

Organisers are hoping to attract up to 300 people for their garden celebrations, with the refurbished space being strung with bunting and tables laid for people to get together over food and drink.

Brighton resident and volunteer at the garden Nishali Shalice said: “The community gardens are so important to the local area - as a space for residents to meet new people and catch up with friends, as well as to improve their mental health and wellbeing and enjoy the outdoors and grow plants and food.

“We are so grateful to PG Tips and the Eden Project for making the connection and for the beautiful new renovations, and we can’t wait to enjoy them at our Big Jubilee Lunch celebrations on June 5 and beyond.”

The area going forward will also act as a place for people to bump into each other and build connections.

Giulia Arena from PG Tips said: “We know how important this local space, like many others, is to fostering a sense of community and helping beat loneliness - everyone needs somewhere to explore their interests and improve their wellbeing, or simply catch up over a cuppa.

“Ahead of their Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend celebrations, we wanted to give Waterloo Street Community Garden a much-needed tea-fresh, so residents could come together and enjoy the occasion, in their beautiful space.”

Guilia Arena (left) and Nishali Shalice at the community garden in Hove

As many as 12 million people across the country are expected to take place in an estimated 200,000 Big Jubilee Lunch celebrations this Sunday.

Peter Stewart, executive director of the Eden Project - organisers of the Big Jubilee Lunch, said: “What makes the Big Jubilee Lunch ‘big’ is not the size of your event - it is that everyone is invited to take part at the same time across the UK.

“The Big Jubilee Lunch is all about sharing - and a cuppa with a neighbour is the easiest way to do this.

“Everyone can bring something to a Big Jubilee Lunch, from the tea cups and biscuits to music and games.

“We’re thrilled that our wonderful community partners at PG Tips are supporting the Big Jubilee Lunch and the wonderful Waterloo Street community project in Hove as it will help even more people come together in the area, get to know one another a little better, and share a few cuppas too.”