Walsden Street Community Garden

Walsden Street Community Garden is a green space which brings the community together.

Benefit of community based projects

Volunteering in community projects and performing acts of kindness can have a positive impact on mental wellbeing. There is a small amount of evidence to suggest that getting involved in environmental activities and projects may also have a positive impact on physical health. Community engagement can foster a greater sense of ownership and identification with the local area, which may lead to long-term sustainability. It can also combat social exclusion and empower individuals.

Location

Walsden Street, Clayton M11 4WJ

Project team

Buzz

Hulme Garden Centre

Aim

Bob a local resident from Walsden Street Clayton has turned a derelict plot which was condemned due to subsidence and which was being used as a fly tipping site into a community green space. His hope is to increase the community cohesion by bringing the local community together by offering a green and safe place for local residents to meet and to form lasting relationships.

I meet with Bob to discuss funding opportunity via the Wellbeing Fund as he had expressed an interest in changing the layout and adding a selection of grasses, trees and extending the decking areas to the garden as teens have unrooted some of the plants and kids have trampled the flowers.

I helped Bob complete a plan of the garden and linked him in with Hulme Garden Centre in order for him to order a selection of plants. Moreover, I helped Bob to complete a Wellbeing Fund allocation so he could complete the community garden and address the issues had with the original layout.

Testimonials:

Words from Bob project lead

“The garden has helped to bring the community together”

“We had kid parties, fireworks displays and community get togethers’ on the garden which has helped start new friendships”

“People are saying hello to each other much more now because of this garden”

Evaluation

The project has been an overwhelming success, as it helped to bring the community together. The garden offers a green space which can be accessed by the community and used by the community to hold birthday parties, barbecues and festival events which has had a positive effect on community cohesion by bringing the local community together.

In Bob’s own words he’s met and talked to people who have lived on the estate of over a decade but never interactive with their neighbours until the Walsden Street Community Garden was opened. Ultimately the Walsden Street Community Garden offers a green and safe place for local residents to meet and to form lasting relationships.

The lasting legacy from this project will be the memories and friendships created from the community connecting which have happened so far.

Strategic links to local/national policies

Benefit	Policy
Increased mental wellbeing	Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Social inclusion More engaged in community	Manchester Population Health Plan NHS Five Year Forward View (Department of Health, 2014) Manchester Population Health Plan
Community ownership and long-term sustainability	Healthy Lives, Healthy People (HM Government, 2010)
Empowerment of individuals	Healthy Lives, Healthy People (HM Government, 2010) NHS Five Year Forward View (Department of Health, 2014)
Increased physical activity and physical health	Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy