Petrus Incredible Edible Rochdale
Rochdale, Greater Manchester
Our Story
PIER is run by local homelessness charity Petrus Community. We initially started as a pilot project in 2014 making hanging baskets for the community. Since then the project has grown and now includes a community garden, open to all, but specialising in social and therapeutic horticulture and bringing people together from all backgrounds through a common love of nature, horticulture and food.
The Challenge
The space itself was once a wasteland, devoid of colour, vibrancy or purpose. We desperately needed a place where people could come, feel safe, supported, meeting socially, learn and enjoy the outdoor environment.
The Opportunity
The project has resulted in many opportunities that in some cases have changed people’s lives. From something as simple as a place to meet others and become less isolated, learn to grow food or about biodiversity and nature, it is also a place where people can engage in high profile activities and opportunities that may have previously felt unachievable but as a community they can achieve those goals.
Our two show gardens at RHS Tatton Park have been particularly notable. In 2019 The Petrus team won a silver medal and the People’s Choice award for their ‘Petrus Paradise’ Garden which highlighted the therapeutic impact of horticulture on those experiencing homelessness and in 2021 the team won a bronze medal and the People’s Choice Award for a second time for their garden which explored rain garden techniques, water diversion and planting schemes that can be used to reduce water run off or that can cope with flash flooding.
PIER is a lead partner in the Rochdale Social Prescribing Network where we aim to widen our impact with an overall goal of supporting community-based gardening to be available via prescription linked with all GP surgeries across the borough.
Our current offer through the network has seen an expansion in collaborative working to enable a wider range of green care activity to be delivered from low and high level walks and combining art with the natural environment. By creating a co-produced offer from the outset,we hope to support members of the community to shape a service that will create healthier, mutually supportive, sustainable communities.