UNUSED land at the Vale Community Hospital in Dursley is to be developed into an allotment scheme for residents and local groups.

Work started in earnest to install 40 raised bed allotments last Friday with mayor Clare Nelmes cutting the first sod.

Development of the NHS-owned land is the brainchild of Dr Simon Opher, a GP at Dursley’s May Lane surgery, who believes that allotments offer psychological and medical benefits to patients.

Inspired by Dr Opher’s vision, several groups banded together to make the allotments a reality.

The £27,000 project was part-funded by a successful grant application made via Cllr Steve Lydon through Gloucestershire County Council’s Active Together Fund.

Financial support for the allotment project has also been provided by Dursley Town Council, the hospital's league of friends and Gloucestershire Care Services.

Speaking of the benefits of allotments on physical and mental health, Dr Opher, who initially came up with the idea three years ago, said: ”There are numerous medical and psychological benefits to patients who take on an allotment. 

“This scheme is unique as it will take place in the grounds of a hospital and support patients trying out gardening for the first time or after a serious illness has stopped them from doing what was always their passion. 

“The physical fitness and healthy eating are part of the benefits, the others lie in growing a sense of community and reducing isolation that illness can bring upon us.”

Individuals can apply for an allotment through the new ‘social prescription’ initiative and can be referred by their GPs and other health staff. 

Support is available in starting an allotment and there will be workshops on different aspects of growing food successfully. 

Special matting and ramps will allow wheelchair access and a large shed will be erected on site to store equipment, seating and tea and coffee making facilities.

As well as being for patients, some plots will also be allocated to Dursley residents currently on the waiting list for a site elsewhere in the town.

The area will be fully landscaped with flowers and herbs and the planting of fruit trees to create a small orchard.

The initial set up of allotments will be organised by Down to Earth with support from Bisley Community Composting Scheme the league of friends and both Cam and Dursley councils.

Amanda Godber of Down to Earth, said: “Linking health, nutritious food and physical activity by developing the unused land at the front of the hospital into a suite of allotments for local community groups and social prescribing is such a valuable project. 

“We hope to work with local community groups and involve the community in the whole project.”

With help from students of the Peak Academy, work on the pilot stage of the development began on Friday with the first ground broken and first trees planted.

Following initial tree planting, the remainder of the site can start to be developed when the outcome of funding applications is known.

It is hoped that allotments will be ready for sowing of winter crops with workshops planned for this summer.

Additional volunteers are being sought as well as interested allotment holders, including community groups, ready to start stage two which will be the build of the site. 

Sponsorship and donations can be left via bit.ly/22Hd1Mg.  

Anyone interested in volunteering or being involved in any way should email: valehospitalallotments@downtoearthstroud.co.uk    

More information can be found at facebook.com/ValeCommunityHospitalAllotmentScheme