08 April 2025
Summary:
We are committed to engaging with our contractors to create social value in the communities where we work.
This year, during a visit to Tutin Court near Loughborough, residents showed us their established and well-kept communal garden, which was filled with flowers, shrubs and vegetables. After talking with residents, it became clear there was an appetite to grow an even wider range of produce, but that gardeners with limited mobility were restricted and some were unable to join in at all. The residents were passionate about making gardening more accessible and inclusive, but didn’t know where to start.
We shared this with our Estate Team, and soon after, our contractor stepped in to design and install raised planters that were more accessible and better suited to vegetable growth. Since residents had requested “winter veggies”, the contractor went on to provide the seeds and seedlings for residents to plant. Another benefit was that the planters themselves were made from mostly upcycled materials, as our contractor had been working in partnership with bulky waste services to rescue disused timber that would otherwise have gone to landfill or tips.
A greater number of Tutin Court residents are now able to enjoy sharing fresh produce, and many have attended a community cooking course arranged by our Empowering Futures team where they learned how to turn the vegetables into delicious, cost-effective meals. In testament to its success, Tutin Court’s gardening initiative was shortlisted at the UK’s Affordable Housing Awards 2023.
“A great project! We’re grateful to have partners who are making such a difference in our communities.”
– Katrina Campbell-Coupland, MTVH Regional Community Coordinator