South Milford & Lumby

Community Web site

North Yorkshire

I am continuing the theme of ‘Environmental Improvements’ in this gardening column in the hope that people will ask questions, take an interest and become involved. With the government imposed budget cuts to Local Authorities there will be less money to go around and it can be seen that priorities like education and water supply and drainage will top the list. Those aspects that impact on the eye like Parks and Open Spaces are not a statutory obligation and are most likely to see the financial knife!

The Britain in Bloom report by The Royal Horticultural Society is very upbeat. The Competition is run annually and harnesses the enormous power of volunteers and brings about life changing and far reaching visual transformations of local areas. One example quoted is Garrowhill Garden Estate in Glasgow which I can identify with, having worked in the city for 10 years on environmental projects. Recent visits to the city show that problems continue to abound and Communities have latched onto the benefits of the Britain in Bloom idea to improve their surroundings.

Garrowhill is a community of 3000 houses built in the 1930’s with ample open space but which has been poorly maintained and uncared for. Streets were grubby and uninteresting and as a consequence people cared little for their surroundings.

The intervention of one person: Barry Linning inspired other residents to get involved. He spent his £80 prize money from a front garden competition on improving a 200 metre stretch of municipal land at a road junction that was overlooked by a pub and was heavily littered by passersby. Despite reluctance by the local council to get involved he managed to persuade some local councillors to give their support. The Council cleared the land and cut the grass. As ‘brave Barry’ started his preparation for planting, his work encouraged other volunteers to come forward.

More shrubs and mass bulb planting became available helped by a nearby Children’s Nursery and the Primary School. Even the Barrachnie Inn pub staff and local shops chipped in, both in fund raising and with maintenance and litter collection. The site came to be called ‘Little Amsterdam’.

Over three years work was developed further with hanging baskets and street planters and Glasgow’s Land and Environmental Services made further contributions both helping to improve areas and by in kind provision of plants, planters and hanging baskets.

“One man” became “Garrowhill Garden Estate Community Group” working with other groups like the Brownies and children from the Primary School who developed a garden within the school grounds. They constructed raised beds, growing a whole range of fruit and vegetables supported by the ‘Community Group’ who help maintain it.

The impact has been startling! It has inspired people to tidy their own gardens, a huge problem in Glasgow providing a much better environment and cheering everyone up! It has encouraged people to come and live in the area and businesses to take greater care of their surroundings.

Raising people’s expectations in a place like Glasgow of what they can contribute, is fundamental to people having their say and getting involved in improving their area.

Could the same happen in a place like Selby or anywhere else for that matter? I’m sure it could. It takes the spark of initiative to do these things!

Like Barry Linning in Garrowhill it needed that ‘bright spark’ prepared to spend the time which encouraged others to put their backs to the wheel. His enthusiasm was catching and spread across the community into schools, community groups, businesses and the local Council. What contribution could you make? If you feel that you could contribute, no matter how small that contribution; then please get in touch with me?

dave@daviddmitchell.co.uk

Tel: 01977689858

Mo: 07967730010