A green-fingered Cambridge project that works with homeless people is celebrating its fifteenth Birthday.  

Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner met homeless gardeners and staff from the Cambridge Cyrenians at the Whitehill Allotments who explained how the project works.

The Cambridge Cyrenians Allotment Project grows vegetables, herbs, soft fruit and wildflowers using organic methods across six full-sized allotment plots. There is a wildlife area with a pond, a dwarf orchard and the project now also includes it first bee hive.

Over the last fifteen years, hundreds of people have benefitted from taking part in the projects which provides horticulture training, supported work experience and a safe social environment for some of the most disadvantaged people in the city.

Kristian Claxton from Cambridge Cyrenians said: “The allotment project offers meaningful occupation, helps to provide real work experience and helps develop new skills. On top of this, it can also be an essential therapeutic and social place to relax. Many attendees see the allotment as a safe place to get away from their worries. One group member recently had this to say “Just to be outside, lose track of time, see your produce at the end of it, the happy faces down here you can’t beat it”.

Daniel Zeichner MP said: “Happy Birthday, and thank you to the Cambridge Cyrenians Allotment Project for letting me share in your celebrations. From little acorns, grow great oaks and this great local charity is a real success.”