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Community gardening reduces antisocial behaviour |
20th Aug 2007 |
Young people in Bournemouth took a keen interest in the community this summer
due to a new rewarding scheme that was supported by horticultural company Banyards.
Dreamscheme was organised in Oakmead Gardens, West Howe by local residents and Knightstone Housing Association.
It's a national scheme run in several parts of the country and was set up in Bournemouth by Knightstone as a two-week pilot scheme. If successful, it could be rolled out to other areas of the town next summer.
The aim is to encourage children and young people to get involved in the community and reduce the amount of antisocial behaviour there.
Its housing officer for the area, Deborah Nicholas, said: “Around 12 children each day helped people in their communities and for this they received points to earn them activities and trips to places such as the beach, The Royal Corp of Signals Museum and a session with one of AFC Bournemouth coaches.”
Some of their work was to help staff from Banyards, which maintains Knightstone's housing land, with grass cutting, shrub pruning, hedge cutting, weed control of hard areas and litter picking.
Picture: Chris Vivian of Banyards (left) with Deborah Nicholas of Knightstone Housing and children from Oakmead Gardens taking part in Dreamscheme
