Skelmersdale

Little Digmoor Community Garden - awarded £10,000

Little Digmoor is an estate in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, with a number of squares or public open spaces on the residents’ doorsteps. These squares had become neglected, unsightly and un-used. The community identified one of these areas to be transformed into a community garden.

Groundwork organised community consultations designed to encourage local residents to take ownership of the project, involve a wide range of age groups in the creation of designs for the site and to promote the project to the wider community. An interactive design workshop provided residents with the opportunity to comment on the current condition of the site and to encourage them in generating new ideas for the site's development.

Overgrown, poor quality trees were removed to open up the site and allow light to reach neighbouring homes. A dangerous sunken area was filled to provide the location for an informal children's play area and seating. The play area rubber surfacing was based on a design created by local school children.

When the project was complete local residents, school children and Barclays staff helped with the final planting on site. The project left local residents with an increased ability and willingness to develop further similar schemes locally and take a greater sense of pride in their achievements.