ADSWOOD PASSAGEWAY
A small space behind a row of terraced houses on Adswood Road. A previous project, in the passageway alongside these houses, had involved a community clean up and installation of new planters, which the residents filled and have since cared for. Following discussions about that area, the residents asked for a project to improve this area behind their houses, to create an attractive,
Issues
This was an untidy and litter-filled area behind a row of houses, being taken over by Japanese Knotweed. The area was not secure and break-ins occurred via this passageway.
Solutions
Local residents, were consulted and said they would like a nice place to socialize and somewhere for the children to play.
Delivery
Residents chose new fences, gates, new paving slabs, planters and seats (including wooden mushrooms as stools for the children) to make this an attractive place that they want to use and look after.
Partners
SMBC, Adswood Road residents, Stockport Parks and Landscape Department, Jacques Landscapes
Quotes
“This is a really nice space for everyone now, bring on the sun, we want barbeques out here!”
“Thanks, it’s great for us kids to play in” Megan, Aged 8
CALE GREEN SCHOOL
Two projects have been undertaken at this primary school. In 2006/07, a nursery playground was built and in March 2008, the community play
area was completed.
Issues
The school had a plain playground, with no play facilities Old fences around the playground were not very secure
Solutions
To create an exciting play space for the nursery class to play and learn in, To create a play facility, available to the local community after school,
To brighten up the grounds and make them inspiring and fun
Delivery
For both projects, Groundwork consulted pupils, parents and staff to gain their input / ideas for the play areas.
Partners
SMBC, Staff and pupils Cale Green Primary school, Stockport Parks and Landscape Department, Groundwork Landscapes
Quotes
“The floor is lovely and bouncy” Ann Coffey, MP
“I can’t thank Groundwork enough, the children love these new facilities” David Marshall, Headteacher
DURHAM HOUSE
This was an unsightly area of land outside Stockport Homes’ Durham House flats. Old paving slabs were uneven and unattractive. The bushes were litter traps and a wall (in between the flats and Our Lady’s school) was regularly used as a seat.
Issues
Overgrown shrubs, uneven paving, no usable space for residents of the ground floor flats and an unattractive entranceway to Durham House that Stockport Homes wanted improving
Solutions
Stockport Parks and Landscape Department created a range of options for the pathways, the planting and the entrances to the flats, which were shown to and agreed by residents and Stockport Homes
Delivery
Groundwork held a community arts event in the nearby community centre, creating designs for mosaics with Year 5 pupils from Our Lady’s school
Partners
SMBC, Stockport Homes, Stockport Parks and Landscape Department, Groundwork Landscapes,
OUR LADY’S RC SCHOOL
One of the 3 Primary schools in the Shaw Heath area. It had basic grounds, lacking in facilities for play, especially for the nursery children
Issues
The school had a bleak, drab unwelcoming entrance way. The nursery play area was shabby and uninspiring for the children to play in and what space there was, was not being used effectively
Solutions
To create a more welcoming and attractive entrance to the school. To create an exciting play space for the nursery class to play and learn in
Delivery
Consultation events were held with the pupils, parents, governors and staff. Pupils were encouraged to draw ideas for their play area
Groundwork enabled the nursery children to help a willow weaver construct a story telling area out of willow saplings.
Partners
SMBC, Staff and pupils at Our Lady’s RC Primary school, Stockport Parks and Landscape Department, Jon English contractors, EcoArts.
Quotes
“The track is great to run around” Pupil Aged 5
“I can’t wait to have a story in the story telling area”.
ECOSCHOOLS
Ecoschools is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these
principles into the heart of school life.
Schools create their own “Eco Council” (run by staff and pupils) who undertake environmental reviews of their schools’ curriculum and buildings.
They then generate an action plan to help their school and everyone involved with it (parents, staff, governors, pupils, the caretakers) become greener. The group works through the scheme, applying for Bronze then Silver awards and finally are judged for their Green Flag.
This process can take a couple of years.
Our Lady’s Primary school started their Ecoschool council, with 4 pupils, who called themselves the “Green Machines”, with Helen’s help in February. They successfully received their Bronze Award in May!!
Cale Green Primary school set up the “Green Tree crew” a team of 8 pupils at the start of April. They achieved their Bronze award in May too, a little bit quicker than Our Lady’s, but they did have double the number of members!!
Pupils at the Waste Works centre making recycled paper
Well done to both teams, keep up the great green work!!
Click play to listen to a podcast of a radio interview Helen was on recently
Helen Mitchem (Groundwork’s Senior Community Link Officer in Stockport) set up a youth project, with Connexions in February, to recruit teenagers to work on a new project ……… and here we are!!
In July the 4 members of the Enviro-mentalists (as they called themselves) will be launching their website and series of films about recycling at
2 events co-ordinated by the group
The team worked with a website company (Cube3, originally Devote Design from Stockport) and professional film maker, Marlon Davies, to produce a website containing profile pages about themselves and an excellent series of films, for young people, about different types of recycling.
The group produced films (which they have offered as adverts to) and interviewed staff at the following companies - J Davidson’s scrap yard
Altrincham; SIMS computer recyclers Ashton under Lyne; GM Waste Landfill site, Bury; Oxfam Original second hand clothing, Manchester and
EMERGE recycling centre, Audenshaw.
HALLAM CORONATION GARDENS
Issues
Hallam Coronation was a well-used cut through from Hallam Mill to the local shops and college. Unfortunately the gardens suffered from litter and dog fouling. Young people used to gather in the evenings and would drink alcohol and smash the bottles on the ground. The play area was in very poor condition with outdated and dangerous play equipment. It was also in an area which was not visible and attracted loiterers.
Solutions
Work with local community and partners to develop, design and implement improved play facilities, restoration of the gates; re landscaped the gardens, which included a wild flower meadow and additional appropriate planting.
Delivery
After completion of the Hallam Coronation gardens the residents have formed a Friends of group and hold regular fund raising days,
hanging basket events, planting days and fun day events
EYELINE SENSORY GARDEN
Issues
Eyeline is a centre for people with visual impairments and was well attended by people of all ages. The access to the centre did not meet DDA
requirements, therefore needed to be improved. The centre had no space for the users of the centre to sit out and enjoy the open air. The existing space was uninteresting and basically consisted of concrete paving stones.
Solutions
Work with the users of the centre to design a sensory garden which would meet the needs of the centre users. Ensure involvement from local residents as the garden would be open to the public as well. Invite an artist to work with centre users to develop a piece of sensory art work for the garden and a water feature.
Delivery
The space included seating, planting in raised beds and trellises, art work with sensory features, surfacing and a water feature.