Flower power for Anfield

Residents of Gilman Street, Anfield/Breckfield have been left with a rosy glow after their garden became the centre of attention when they received a visit from RHS Britain in Bloom Neighbourhood Award judge. Their highly successful garden initiative is already a finalist in the 2009 Sustainable Housing Awards within The Transformation Award category.

Jigsaw Neighbourhood Solutions (JNS), part of Vicinity Housing Group, has been working with residents from the local Positive Parents group (part of Anfield Breckside Neighbourhood Council) and the Christchurch Girl Guides to improve the local streets and transform vacant land facing their home into this garden. The occasion was marked with an event for the whole community, arranged by JNS and ‘tenantspin’ – a FACT and Arena Housing community media project. Brazilian drummers provided the entertainment, together with a praying mantis stilt walker, face painting, refreshments and wildlife themed small toys.
 

Terry Bouch, Jigsaw supervisor said: “This project has been so rewarding from the start; seeing how the local residents and particularly young people have taken ownership and responsibility for the work makes us certain that this work will have a long term impact on the neighbourhood.”

The Gilman Street Project began after the strategic demolition of properties as part of the Housing Market Renewal Programme in Liverpool. Environmental team Jigsaw consulted with residents to decide how to develop the site and residents planned and chose the plants for their garden. It was agreed that it should be a community garden area with shrubs to attract wildlife. Two sections of the garden have been planted with wildflowers, willow buds and small trees to encourage biodiversity. Rose bushes have also been planted to attract bees.

Residents are being offered gardening classes and tools to help with the maintenance of their garden. The Gilman Street site is funded through LHT and is part of the Housing Market Renewal Programme ‘Living Through Change’ initiative through the Merseyside Pathfinder NewHeartlands.

After the visit the judge made the following remarks:

“The Neighbourhood Awards encourages communities to use sustainable planting to enhance their local streets; start recycling; promote biodiversity and care for their surroundings. We felt the Gilman Street site covered these factors; wildflowers, heather plants, and roses planted covered the sustainable planting; recycling was covered by the recycled wooden pallets used for the paths and the biodiversity on the site ranges from butterflies, ladybirds, bees and birds.”
 

For further information, please contact Vicinity Communications on 0151 708 2395