Meet The Neighbours - Lovaine Community Garden volunteers

Lovaine Community Garden is an organic growing space in the heart of North Shields town centre. The garden was established in 2010 by local residents working together on a neglected piece of land, formerly a WW2 bomb site, which had become an anti-social behaviour hotspot. It is now a vibrant and well-loved community green space, which not only functions as a community garden but as a unique event space for local arts and culture.

The volunteers aim to teach and encourage permaculture and eco-consciousness, increase local biodiversity and promote gardening and access to nature for personal and community wellbeing. They run coffee mornings, community events, gardening clubs, and nature, wildlife and craft activities.

The garden is a central urban greenspace for people who have no access to their own garden spaces, or who may be unable to access or tend a garden because of physical or financial difficulties, housing constraints, or lack of knowledge or training, or for those who wish to learn organic horticulture techniques and be part of a friendly open community.

The volunteers host frequent Live Music Nights and Singaround/Busker sessions, art therapy sessions, holistic therapy, mindfulness and wellbeing groups, and play sessions for children and parents. Members of the public, businesses and charities can use the garden for their own events. It's an inspirational space for art, music, sculpture and poetry.

Volunteer Wendy Young said: "North Shields is a unique and interesting place to be, and our little spot is right in the heart of it. It has a rich industrial heritage, fascinating local history and culture and lots of dedicated community groups and talented creatives who are really passionate about the area and its people.

"Like most northern working class towns, it has seen more than its fair share of ups and downs over time, as the world changes around us, we have to adapt, but the place and the people definitely have grit and character.

"We meet people every day in the garden and there really are people from all walks of life here but the common factor is that they all love North Shields. It is nice to see all of the current local regeneration in the town centre, and lots of new arts and culture venues on the horizon, it is really much needed

post-pandemic."