Promoting wellbeing through gardening at Ridgegrove park

We joined Cornwall Council and Cormac for a volunteer gardening day at Ridgegrove Park in Launceston last month. The event took place on Clean Air Day, aiming to promote wellbeing activities to staff and local residents.

The day was packed with hands-on tasks led by Cornwall Council’s Making Space for Nature team. Everyone was invited to get stuck in, with lessons on weeding, edging, replacing wood chippings, and mulching from Cormac. Volunteers were given spades, gloves, hand tools, wheelbarrows, and dumping bags to tackle the weeds. Despite the hot weather, everyone was keen and committed to sprucing up Ridgegrove park.

The event was organised by Cornwall Council’s Active Travel Group as a team volunteering day, but also as an opportunity to encourage Cornwall Housing residents to get involved. Our Communications and Engagement team handed out leaflets around Ridgegrove estate to spread awareness about the event, and a member of the team attended on the day to connect with residents. Our Estate Rangers also pitched in, tidying up the estate and participating in the gardening activities.

Melissa Ralph, Cormac’s Making Space  for Nature Manager, who organised the  day said: “A very big thank you to  Cornwall Council’s Active Travel Group,  for all their hard work in the hot sunshine  at Ridgegrove Park in Launceston!  Cormac’s ‘Urban Green Shoots’ team  were pleased to host the session –  together we litter picked, weeded, edged  and mulched a very large pollinator-  friendly planting bed, on the main path.  Nature is in decline in Cornwall and this  flower filled habitat helps provide food and shelter for our bees, butterflies and other insects. It also provides a lot of colour and enjoyment for local residents too.

It was fantastic to meet the team and enjoy a very productive workday together and hear such positive comments from the public too – enjoying active travel in their local park!”

Gwyn Williams from Cornwall Council’s public health team added: "It’s been such an enjoyable day and I’m sure it’s been a big boost to everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing. I’m part of the Active Travel Group and we really encourage people to get out and about. So, it’s also been great to see residents walking back and forth with shopping bags in the newly regenerated park."

Formerly a farmer’s field, Ridgegrove park was transformed by Cornwall Council in 2022 to improve green space in the town and create an off road path for cyclists and walkers . Now managed by Cormac, the area is a thriving habitat for local wildlife with accessible paths, frequently used by residents to access the town.

We plan to support more collaborative events like this in the future.