RSPB want to engage community to help grow food and plants

The RSPB is working alongside the South West Regional Assessment Centre (SWRAC) which has taken over the running of the café at the RSPB Discovery Centre at Radipole Lake.

The SWRAC provides work experience opportunities for young adults with special needs.

The centre has also provided funding for a new community garden which will allow local residents to have a go at growing wildflowers and vegetables.

The new community garden at the RSPB Radipole Discovery Centre (Image: Tom Lawrence)

The garden will sit atop a raised bed at the front of the centre in the Swannery car park.

The raised bed has been created in such a way that it can to be accessible for wheelchair users and people with mobility issues.

The garden was opened at an event on Saturday, which also offered visitors a chance to create their own bird feeders, help build a bug hotel and see the wildlife living in the lakes by pond dipping.

The RSPB intends to repeat these events to try and engage more local residents with the centre and the nature reserve.

Youngsters like Mason were encouraged to find wildlife in the lake by pond dipping (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Lesley Gorman, visitor operations manager at Dorset RSPB said: “Sometimes we get the impression that local people don’t really know what this building is, what we do and how they can get involved.

“We are trying to open it up and get more people in.

“We want it [the raised beds] to become a community garden, so people who are passing by can come and get involved, the plan is to put some food crops in next year so that people walking past may be able to pluck a tomato.

“We want to demonstrate that you can have a pretty and productive garden that is also wildlife friendly."

From left to right: Adrian Gunner, managing director of SWRAC, Lesley Gorman, visitor operations manager at Dorset RSPB and Laura Pringle, Dorset RSPB events manager at the Radipole Discovery Centre (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Laura Pringle, events manager at the RSPB, said: “Out of the front of the building we are creating a bug hotel where wildlife can come in, we are encouraging families to come in and help to fill it.

Radipole Minibeast Mansion - the new bug hotel outside Radipole Discovery Centre (Image: Tom Lawrence)

“We want this to be a community place and make people feel able to come and help out.”

Adrian Gunner, managing director of SWRAC, said: “During the week most of our students are here at the café, running the show.

“All of our children have special educational needs, so this is a good way of improving their confidence and esteem and improving their social skills.

“The objective is to create a pathway to paid employment.”