A Watford café has used funding to enhance its community garden and lay down a patio area.

Random Café in Garsmouth Way, Meriden, offers food donated by supermarkets that would otherwise go to landfill.

The non-profit opened its garden for community initiatives and events in 2020, transforming the neglected and overgrown space it inherited and allowing it to grow fruit trees, plants and produce, which is then sold by the café and its shop.

Watford Observer: Cllr Tim Williams, Cllr Jenny Pattinson, Jane Johnson, Cllr Amanda, and Watford mayor Peter Taylor Cllr Tim Williams, Cllr Jenny Pattinson, Jane Johnson, Cllr Amanda, and Watford mayor Peter Taylor (Image: Watford Borough Council)

Watford Borough Council has given £7,323 in funding from its Neighbourhood Grant to further improve the garden, including expanding the café with a new patio seating area.

Founder Jane Johnson said: “Our community garden has become a popular destination for residents, providing a welcoming green space for the community to come together, learn about sustainability and reduce food waste.

“With the funding we have been awarded, we can now make it more accessible and sustainable, allowing us to continue our mission of reducing Watford's carbon emissions and creating a more welcoming and inclusive community space.”

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Solar panels will be installed on the roof of the port-a-cabin café to help reduce its power usage and increase its positive environmental impact.

Since 2017, Random Café has saved over 80 tonnes of food.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: “The café and shop not only offers food that would otherwise go to landfill, it also serves as a meeting place for the community, providing social events that bring people together.

“The funding they have received will allow the café to improve their community garden and make it more accessible and sustainable, enabling them to continue creating a positive impact on the local community and environment.”

The latest improvements are part of ongoing plans to improve the site.

At the end of last year, it was given permission to build two rooms to deliver extra café and kitchen preparation areas connected by a pergola.

Money for Neighbourhood Grant funding comes from a levy paid by developers for new housing in Watford.

Applications are open for the next round of grant funding.