Chesterfield

Hunloke Community Organic Garden – awarded £4,500

Located in Birdholme Chesterfield, this site was a neglected sports field that had become a local eyesore. The area was vandalised and was a hot spot for anti-social behaviour. With the drive and determination of local residents the land was transformed into an organic community garden.

In December 1999 the Rother Community Action Partnership was formed with local residents, Groundwork and members of the local authority. Throughout the course of the year, a number of consultations and practical days had been held involving the local community. The first involved a litter pick up and general scrub clearance. This was followed on ‘Make a Difference Day’, with members of the local community being joined by staff from the Rose Hill branch of Barclays to plant over 200m of hedgerow.

Young people on a New Deal training programme linked to horticultural qualifications and a community composting project helped develop the garden.

The Hunloke Community Garden project acted as a catalyst to bring the community closer together, particularly the members of the Rother Action Community Partnership. The group increased in confidence and are now regularly running fundraising activities for the garden. The group also became actively involved in the Derbyshire Food Forum.

Two local people were employed by the group to work on the project on a full time basis. This meant that a great deal could be achieved in a relatively short period of time. The garden now hosts a regular team of local volunteers, community service volunteers and a group from the National Schizophrenia Fellowship.