Welcome our newest addition to Porlock!
We here at Porlock Community Gardens in Jarrow are thrilled to announce that the gardens are now home to a donated double decker bus, generously provided by Stagecoach. This unique addition will be transformed into a community-run tea/coffee facility, serving as a vibrant hub for the gardens and local residents.
This exciting opportunity arose from a connection made by Lise Barkas, Porlock Community Gardens' community garden coordinator, and Linda Kirk, manager of the Just for Women's centre in Stanley. The pair met at a Coalfields-funded course facilitated by Social Enterprise Academy earlier this year and discovered a shared passion for community projects. Kirk mentioned receiving a bus donation that wasn't suitable for her centre, and very kindly offered to re-donate it to Porlock Gardens, and Lise immediately saw the great potential for a community tearoom and meeting space. With Stagecoach's kind approval, the bus is now destined for a new life in Porlock!
"This bus will be a brilliant asset for the community garden," says Lise. "It will help build a regular footfall, expand our volunteer network, and provide a welcoming space for people to connect and enjoy the gardens."
The next step is securing funding to refurbish the bus, creating a welcoming coffee stall on the lower level and a versatile training and meeting space upstairs. This space will host a variety of activities, further enriching the community experience.
This initiative is the latest in a series of exciting developments for Porlock Gardens. Established by Bilton Hall Community Trust (BHCT) on the site of a former garden centre, Porlock Gardens has flourished thanks to a 25-year lease secured from South Tyneside Council by centre manager Joanna Tuck. Recent investments include funding from the Greggs Foundation (supporting Lise's coordinator role), Levelling Up Funding for Parks by STC (providing essential infrastructure, paths, and water installation), and the Tyne River Trust (enabling water collection through purpose-built stations). Groundwork STAN has also designated Porlock Gardens as one of their Northern Network's Green Hubs, leading to further investment, including a fully composting, disabled-accessible toilet area to be completed in January. With new paths also being installed over the Christmas period, Porlock Gardens is poised for an amazing spring and summer in 2025!
Staff and volunteers at Porlock Community Gardens and Bilton Hall Community Trust CIO would like to extend our gratitude to both Linda Kirk, Just for Women Centre and Stagecoach for this generous donation that will provide an incredible addition to Porlock and fantastic benefit to our users and the local community and residents.
We hope you will all enjoy this new, incredible addition to Porlock Community Gardens, and look forward to welcoming you all onboard once the bus has been transformed!
In Comm-Unity,
Lise, Joanna and all the Porlock team, with the immeasurable help from Stagecoach and our friends at Just for Women Centre, Linda Kirk and Nickie Gott.