“We knew it was here, but we never knew what went on” is one of the things we hear most often when people finally make it through the gates of Hollybush Conservation Centre, writes Jayne Learoyd.
Our main building and barn on the busy road junction of Broad Lane, Wyther Lane and Bridge Road date back to around 1700.
The large woodland garden by the side of the Leeds Liverpool Canal also has polytunnels, workshops and classrooms and a café (open Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am to 3pm).
As one of The Community Volunteering charity (TCV)’s two Leeds projects, we have been connecting people with green spaces through courses and volunteering opportunities for 40 years. These activities help to improve wellbeing, increase physical activity, get people out and about, meeting new people and drinking lots of tea and coffee. We also have events for families during the year.
Activities include:
Short Courses: woodwork, gardening, natural crafts (basket weaving, eco-dying, felting) and a range of conservation skills such as green woodworking, hedge laying and coppicing. These are free to people on benefits or earning less than £15,736.50 a year
Green Gyms: These are short gardening sessions and walking groups taking place across the whole of Leeds and funded by Leeds City Council.
Practical Volunteering: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – go out with our team to local green spaces and repair bridges, build walls, prepare footpaths etc
Time to Shine – The Great Outdoors: These are activities aimed at people over 50 and include practical activities such as wood work, gardening and natural crafts.
Hollybush Project works with adults with learning disabilities doing gardening, woodwork, crafts and cooking.
Find out more about courses, activities and opportunities at Hollybush: 0113 2399923, or call in (Tues – Fri) Hollybush Conservation Centre, Broad Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3BP.
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