Anwyl stepped in to support Incredible Edible Knowsley with a donation of £1,000 towards footpath improvement works at Court Hey Park...
THE pathway to healthy eating in Knowsley is easier to navigate thanks to help from Anwyl Homes. Incredible Edible Knowsley took over the former National Wildflower Centre at Court Hey Park in August last year. The community interest company is helping to reduce food poverty and improve the health and wellbeing of residents by growing and donating produce. Fruit and vegetable seedlings are started at Court Hey Park and then planted out across Knowsley. When the produce is ripe it’s harvested and given to the local community free of charge. Anwyl stepped in to support Incredible Edible Knowsley with a donation of £1,000 towards footpath improvement works at Court Hey Park via a voluntary community fund linked to the housebuilder’s nearby Edenhurst Grange development at Bowring Park. Karen Mower, director of Incredible Edible Knowsley, explained: “The centre hadn’t been used for a few years when we took it over and so we had to do a lot of clearing up before we could start growing food here. One of the things we soon realised was that pathways around the site were in disrepair and in wet weather it was particularly difficult for people in wheelchairs to manage. With funding from Anwyl and practical help from Tarmac we’ve been able to improve the pathways, making it easier for people with disabilities or mobility issues to get around. It will make a big difference, particularly as the winter draws in.” As part of the project there are plans to create an outdoor kitchen and classroom to provide workshops to teach people what to do with the produce grown. Amy Houlihan, area sales manager for Anwyl Homes, said: “The pandemic has really made people appreciate being able to access fresh food and outside space and Incredible Edible Knowsley ticks both of those boxes. Incredible Edible Knowsley was a project we were keen to support as it offers a sustainable solution to food poverty. Along with providing fresh fruit and veg with minimal food miles, it’s also providing a functional form of exercise for those involved in growing the produce.” Currently celebrating its 90
th anniversary, Anwyl Homes has built its reputation on taking a thoughtful approach to the homes it designs, the developments it creates and the communities in which it builds. The company has funding still available to good causes in the Knowsley area, having made grants of £1,000 each to Incredible Edible Knowsley and Home-Start Knowsley. Home-Start Knowsley used its funding to provide support for 50 vulnerable families including providing food, toiletries and children’s activity packs. “Charities and community groups have had to cancel many of their usual fundraising activities because of Coronavirus. With that in mind we’ve reopened applications to our Edenhurst Grange Fund and are inviting good causes in the area to let us know how we may be able to help them with small grant that could make a big difference,” Amy added. “It could be helping keep young people engaged, supporting lonely older residents or helping a community group with DIY. We’re open to suggestions as to how we can work with the local community.” Community projects in the Knowsley area can request an application form for the community fund by emailing
community@anwyl.co.uk. For more information about the four-bedroom homes currently available at Edenhurst Grange see
anwyl.co.uk/edenhurst
