Another fantastic Community Spaces project launched over the bank holiday weekend to celebrate the opening of their new project. Northwood Community Allotments received over £35,000 from the Community Spaces fund to improve their community garden. David Hammond, the groups Facilitator, reflects on the groups launch event.
Circus skills workshops, a BBQ and a DJ; what more could you want at a launch event! Well, how about Miss Fusion, a 9 foot-tall stilt walker dressed as a flower? All of this – and more – was part of a fantastic community afternoon to celebrate the opening of the Northwood Community Garden in Kirkby on Merseyside.
The August bank holiday stayed dry (!) and hundreds of people came to see the Mayoress, Cllr Diane Reid, cut the traditional red ribbon to get the afternoon underway. The music kept people coming all afternoon to try their luck on the tombola, see the snakes and other animals brought along by the Knowsley Council ranger service, and enjoy a BBQ burger.
The afternoon was a great tribute to the hard work of the Northwood Mums group who, with the support of local councillors, have transformed the site with £35,000 of Community Spaces funding.
Originally an expanse of bare grass used for fly-tipping and suffering anti social behaviour, the site now has paths, benches, planted borders and raised beds. The improvements have been planned to encourage people to use the site and provide places for learning about plants and wildlife.
The extensive planting around the site was done entirely by the group and local children. Getting the kids involved has really paid off: when preschool children pulled some of the plants out, the older kids just planted them back again. The crocodile bench has been a real success; children have even been spotted doing their homework on it on sunny afternoons after school.
For me as a Community Spaces facilitator, the Northwood Mums have been an inspirational group to work with. Even before this project, they created a thriving allotment site from scratch. Now the Community Garden has turned a wasteland into an attractive community asset. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
To see more fantastic pictures of the groups launch event, click here.
the opening day went great and the girls did a great job, every one enjoyed themselves – i cant wait for the next one!
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