Throughout the pandemic the University sited an outdoor covid testing centre on Streatham Campus and now that this centre has been disbanded, one of the Covid Testing Co-ordinators, Deborah Custance-Baker, contacted the Grounds Team and kindly offered two of the testing sheds to be re-housed.
Our Horticultural and Operations Manager, Anthony Cockell, made some enquiries within the local communities and found two new homes for these sheds – Exeter St Thomas Community Garden and the Refugee Support Devon Community Allotment.
Anthony, along with two members of the Grounds Team – Sam Whitehorne and Leo Brooke, used their University annual volunteering community day to work together and deliver these sheds to their new horticultural homes.
This is a great sustainable and community initiative and we are delighted to be able to support these local communities.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of outdoor space, the benefits of nature and gardening and how it increases wellbeing and mental and physical health. So it seems fitting that equipment used for the pandemic can now be used for community allotments and gardens.
Thank you to everyone involved with this project; your generosity and hard work will benefit many!