New community garden unveiled

Barrow's newest community garden was officially opened at the weekend. The 'Old Bakery Gardens' was opened by the Leader of Barrow Borough Council, Councillor Dave Pidduck, alongside local residents group Chair Jen Cox. Around 30 people including local residents and representatives from a number of agencies looked on as the pair pulled the ribbon to formally open the site.

The garden, situated at the corner of Thwaite and Buccleuch Street in central Barrow, has been under construction for the last six months and has been designed and developed by Richard Hollinshead and Jo Ray from Grit and Pearl Art Consultants (http://www.gritandpearl.co.uk/).

The site, owned by Barrow Borough Council, was levelled following the demolition of the Old Bakery building several years ago and is earmarked for housing development. In the meantime the council has agreed to convert the site into its new form as a community garden. The previous demolition was part of Barrow Council's ongoing Housing Renewal programme which has also seen demolition and refurbishment of homes around the Arthur, Marsh and Sutherland Street areas of the town.

The community garden consists of a landscaped area, made up of grassed mounds covered in wildflowers, assorted formal and informal seating and other decorative features including flower patterns painted onto the tarmac surface.

One of the other succesful ingredients of the garden is a separate grow your own plot. This area contains 12 individual planters, designed for community use, and nearly all have already been taken up by interested local residents. One of the planters has also been allocated to the children of the nearby Ramsden Infants School on Thwaite Street.

Steve Robson, Neighbourhood Manager for Barrow Borough Council said "We're really pleased, it looks great and the local residents group are happy with the finished product. The great thing about this is the amount of different organisations and businesses that have supported this project in so many different ways, it's been a real pulling together and demonstrates yet again the excellent partnership working that happens around Barrow on a regular basis."

"From now on the TASC residents group will look after the site and we'll work with them on various projects. As well as the visual improvement, to what was a derelict site, we've also created more space for local people to grow their own fruit and vegetables. We're particularly keen to promote this kind of positive activity which in itself promotes good health and well being."

Following the official opening of the garden over 70 people called into the community day and afternoon tea held at nearby Ramsden Infants School. This event saw £105.00 raised for the TASC group through the raffle, tombola, face painting and garden bring and buy stall.

All photos courtesy of Colin Davison/Grit and Pearl Art Consultants