The smell of burgers cooking and the shouts of happy children turned Shildon’s Community Garden into a garden of laughter and delights on Saturday 12th July. Around 75 people took advantage of the sunshine, calling into the garden to see what was going on. With children’s games, a tombola, bug hunts and some gardening fun, the afternoon was non-stop.

Revd David commented, “The Community Gardens are a part of our Shildon Alive! project. With a disabled toilet, polytunnel and meeting room on site, the Furnace Pit garden has gone from strength-to-strength, with people of all ages and abilities coming together to learn and grow together.”

Whilst the BBQ was not about fundraising, over £170 in donations came in anyway, every penny of which is reinvested in the project. “Shildon”, said Shildon’s Paula Nelson and the projects Community Development Worker, “really is alive!”