Derbyshire residents to benefit from dry stone walling skills

Our community funding scheme has donated funds to Hurst Farm Community Garden in Matlock to provide dry stone wall training.   

The funds are available to our customers who are already volunteering in the garden and who wish to undertake further training.   

The organisers applied to our Community Chest, a funding pot for our customers and local charities, clubs and other not-for-profit organisations for any projects directly benefitting our customers; all applications are assessed against specific eligibility criteria by customers who sit on our Customer Voice Panel.    

The initiative is part of the wider Hurst Farm Wild Works Project, which supports the Hurst Farm estate residents in creating a thriving and vibrant community; it is supported by Derbyshire Dales District Council.   

Previously, the organisers created a collective food growing garden on what was a derelict area of community owned land adjacent to a community hub situated on Farmer’s View.  This is one aspect of a much larger project that includes creating a National Lottery Heritage Fund supported heritage trail through the historic woods surrounding Hurst Farm.  A full time woodland ranger has been appointed to teach dry stone walling, food growing and various woodland management skills to local volunteers.  There is also a beehive.  Freshly grown fruit and vegetables are also grown and donated to a pantry project for the benefit of the local community.   

Lisa Newton, Business Development Manager at Hurst Farm Wild Works said: “We are so grateful to Platform for its generous donation.  This latest initiative will continue to bring the community together in shared endeavour, enabling people to develop new skills through both formal training and learning from each other.”   

Marion Duffy, our Chief Operations Officer said: “We have been involved with the Hurst Farm communities for a substantial period of time and we are delighted to be able to support another endeavour which brings such benefits to people who live locally.  Developing skills which can be put to such good use provides positive mental health and wellbeing as well as providing benefits for the local environment.”    

Photo caption : l to r, Lex Allison, volunteer, Ollie Page, Apprentice Ranger, Hannah Heywood, volunteer, Sarah Langdon, volunteer, Rob Conquest, volunteer, Oliver Fry, volunteer and Sarah Ravensdale, volunteer.