Regenda transforms wasteland into a communal garden

Published by Lucy Bradwell for The Regenda Group in Housing and also in Communities, Environment

An area of derelict land in Farm Road, Oldham, has been transformed into a communal garden thanks to a grant from North West housing provider Regenda. 

The site had frequently attracted anti-social behaviour including fly tipping and nuisance noise.  Groups of youths began to congregate regularly at each end of the two alleyways leading to the site, taking part in nuisance behaviour, including graffiti, making the area into an eyesore and disturbing residents in nearby houses.   

“The problems connected with the derelict land in Farm Road began to affect the whole community,” explained Marcelle Buckley, team leader at Regenda. “Initially the issue was just at the site itself, which is very large, but then it became wider as the anti-social behaviour spread to the paths leading to the land.” 

A consultation with the local community was undertaken in April 2011 and the overall response was a request for the area to be transformed into a communal garden.  This was feasible, both in terms of cost and the likelihood that the garden would not be vandalised in future. 

Work began at the site in June 2011 and was finished at the end of August.  “The area has been transformed,” commented Marcelle. “The work has now been completed and the land has been handed back to the community.  More importantly, Oldham Council has given us planning permission to close the two alleyways leading to the communal garden.  Each resident has been given access to the site through a gate which has been fitted at the end of each back garden, thanks to funding from Regenda.” 

 “We’ve seen rubbish dumped, children lighting fires and destroying items brought or dumped into the area. Youths have thrown stones breaking our windows.  It was a horrible eye sore and there have been broken promises of money to improve the area,” commented Mr Paul Rose from Lowerlime Road.  “Now we have an area securely fenced, nicely landscaped and a pleasure to see, an area to be proud of and it’s a joy to see children playing without fear of contamination by rubbish.”   

Regenda works with communities to build a sustainable future.