Blackburn

St Teresa’s Community Garden - awarded £10,000

This 4,060 metre² site is situated in the grounds of St Teresa's Church in the residential area of Whitebirk in Blackburn. Despite being in a housing estate where it could be used by local residents, the area become neglected, inaccessible and unusable.

St Teresa’s approached the local authority asking for support to regenerate the derelict land surrounding the church. This request soon led to a partnership group being established consisting of Groundwork, a local community organisation BEACH (Blackburn East Area Community Help), Bootstrap Enterprises, the church, a local social landlord North British Housing, residents of the housing estate and other local groups. Together a proposal was put together that included features to meet the needs of the community and which also aimed to address issues concerning lack of security and youth nuisance.

Additional funding was secured from the local authority’s community chest grants programme. Once clearance work was completed, footpaths were installed together with a seating area within a remembrance garden, fencing and planting. Bootstrap Enterprises agreed to undertake the long-term maintenance of the site. St Teresa’s Community Garden is now open to the public and the community feel an immense sense of achievement and pride having worked so hard to successfully complete the project.