With a cut of the secateurs, Anne Shaw (Leader of Three Rivers District Council) officially launched ASCENDs Dig Deep Project on Tuesday (29^th June). The project is based at a disused allotment site, near ASCEND in South Oxhey and will provide training opportunities in horticulture, bush craft and conservation to ASCEND clients and other community partners. 

Supported by Three Rivers District Council, Thrive Homes, United House, Rickmansworth Rotary Club, West Herts College, The South Oxhey Community Police and the European Social Fund,  ASCEND has teamed up with Farming for All to run two successful courses, with more to come this Summer and Autumn.  Jude Allen, Farming for All’s Director and course leader said, “The two courses so far have been extremely successful.  We have already cleared quite a bit of ground to begin planting a wide variety of vegetables, as well as creating hanging baskets, compost boxes, raised beds and a wildlife area.  We are now looking for business partners in the Watford and Three Rivers area to come on board and help us clear more of the area, so can we involve even more members of the community in ‘Growing their Own’”.

The opening saw members of the first course being presented with their certificates by Sean Hughes, Head of Business Improvement from Thrive Homes (ASCEND’s Dig Deep Project is the first to receive funding from Thrive Homes new community initiative) and Councillor Ron Spelling planted a vine to commemorate the event.

ASCEND Patron Gareth Malone is extremely enthusiastic about this project.   He said, “Singing is good for the soul and so is gardening.  This is another ingenious scheme from ASCEND to encourage people, to give them confidence in their skills and to have a good time getting their hands mucky.  I’m proud to be a patron of ASCEND and wish them luck with this excellent idea.  I shall be hoping for some potatoes, come the Autumn!”