Big Local put money and effort into redeveloping the gardens at Reynolds, but it was all so the young people could make the most of it
When? 2021-2025
Partners: VANEL and Green Influencers. Reynolds Family Hub.
There was an initial injection of funding from Big Local and effort from local resident Alan Johnson to redevelop and improve the gardens at Reynolds Family Hub (and you can read that story here).
But the main purpose of all the improvements was to get the garden used by the young people.
Initially the gardens were just used by families and children visiting the Family Hub. But when VANEL started a Green Influencers programme, a Green Influencers group was setup at Reynolds. And that group has continued up to the end of the Big Local programme and beyond.
Over time, each term, many young people come together to enjoy and learn in the Reynolds Garden. The group took a short break at one point but restarted as a Little Green Influencers Group with even younger children being involved.
Alan Johnson (local resident and long-term Big Local committee member) was extremely hands-on running and supporting the groups until his health meant he had to stop.
A gallery below of Alan and Green Influencers children.
The group has run term by term and at one point was led by a local parent who was also helping out with the Sidney Park Sorters Green Influencers Group.
Whilst the funded Green Influencers programme eventually came to an end, the group at Reynolds continued to get some financial support from Big Local North Cleethorpes, VANEL and Reynolds Family Hub itself.
From 2023 a Little Green Influencers group has been running led by Sam at VANEL. In 2025 that group continue to run, the gardens continue to be maintained and children continue to enjoy the space.
See more about the development of the Reynolds gardens themselves here.
The Green Influencers Group at Reynolds has been appreciated by the children, families and the centre itself. Various additional grants and funds have been brought into support the garden and we hope the group will run for many years to come.