Growing Community, Creating Wild Spaces!
In April, we found ourselves at the charming Queens Road Allotments in Leicester, working on a community project on a sunny Tuesday morning that quickly turned into a classic British mix of sunshine, clouds, and a brisk British breeze.
We were there to support the Neighbourhood Nook community allotment, a truly inspiring space created by Bean-mhi. What began as a personal love of gardening during the COVID period soon grew into something much bigger. Recognising the powerful impact gardening can have on mental wellbeing, Bean-mhi set out to create a shared environment—somewhere people without access to their own gardens could come together, learn to grow, and enjoy a sense of calm, connection, and belonging.
Much like our work at the Hamilton Library project, we were joined by a fantastic group of students from Leicester College, this time focusing on their Phase 2 English and maths skills. Before they arrived, the WildWater team got stuck in—marking out the area and lifting the turf to prepare the ground for what would soon become a beautiful new pond.
Once the students joined us, the energy really picked up. Together, we shaped the space and got to work building the pond structure. Layers of protective felt and liner went in, while the students rolled up their sleeves and helped position rocks and shape the pond itself. Along the back edge, we added logs to introduce texture and create a natural habitat—perfect for beetles, bugs, and other small wildlife to thrive.
One of the highlights of the day came as we began planting. The students were full of curiosity, asking questions about each plant and what the space would eventually look like. We shared photos from previous projects to help bring the vision to life, along with stories of the wildlife that might soon call this pond home. From common newts to great crested newts, toads, and even a few amusing anecdotes about mating frogs—it’s safe to say there were plenty of laughs along the way.
We filled the pond with water and stepped back to admire the transformation. What had started as a patch of turf had become a peaceful, natural oasis—and it didn’t take long for nature to respond. Within moments, bees were already stopping by for a drink.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of the day, though, was seeing the students’ reactions. There was a real sense of pride in what they had created together, and several even asked if they could return to visit the pond in the future. Moments like that say it all—this wasn’t just about building a pond, but about sparking a connection with the outdoors and inspiring a desire to do more.
Projects like this remind us why we do what we do. It’s about more than just the end result—it’s about people, community, and creating spaces where everyone can feel they belong.
“It has been such a joy to see our pond grow, watching it connect people to nature and also to caring about the drought and the planet.
The members of our garden have been so excited to find frogs, watch damselflies and dragonflies use it as well as plant water-loving things around it.
The day the WildWater team came to help us fit the pond we had a group of ESOL students who they supported and it was a really special time.
The WildWater team were so friendly and approachable and able to work with the students in such a supportive way, it’ll be a day that lots of us remember:)”
- Bean-Mhi, Neighbourhood Nook
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