We’re delighted to share that ‘Growing Together’, the project in our new Community Orchard and Gardens, has been successful in securing a place in the Tesco Stronger Starts programme.  

Stronger Starts is an in-store initiative where Tesco customers receive tokens to put their votes towards projects happening in their local community.  

The charity with the most votes will receive a £1,500 grant from Tesco to go towards their chosen project, while 2^nd place will receive £1,000 and 3^rd place £500. 

We’ve been busy transforming a neglected space in Enham Alamein into an accessible Community Orchard and Gardens where people of all ages and abilities will be able to learn, connect and grow through our ‘Growing Together’ project.

The Community Orchard and Gardens have been developed to provide an accessible, sustainable outdoor space that promotes skill-building, social connections, and health and wellbeing.

Residents of Enham Alamein and surrounding areas can get involved in a variety of inclusive and accessible activities like allotment sessions, planting and harvesting days, and volunteering to make a lasting impact in the community, and visitors will be welcomed to enjoy what the new outdoor space has to offer.  

On Friday 27 March, Enham Trust staff gathered with their Aster colleagues and various project supporters to participate in a tree planting event ahead of the official launch and opening of the gardens.

We are also planning a week of wellbeing activities to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May) and there will be plenty more opportunities for the community to get involved in the transformation of this space over the course of the project.

Securing any of the Tesco Stronger Starts grants will make an incredible difference to our Community Orchard project and we’re so pleased to be taking part in the programme.

Voting will take place from the first week of April until the end of June 2025. The following Tesco stores in the Andover and surrounding areas will be participating:

• Andover Extra, SP10 1UZ
• Andover Cricketers Express, SP10 5DD
• Whitchurch Andover Express, RG28 7AH
• Charlton Andover Express, SP10 4AJ
• Andover Weyhill Road Express, SP10 3BG

If you’re in the area and visiting one of the above stores, we’d love for you to show your support for the project and vote for us. We look forward to sharing the outcome of the votes in early August 2025. Watch this space!

If you’d like to get involved in the project, whether it be through attending wellbeing sessions or volunteering, we want to hear from you!

Get involved now