Unused piece of land in Coalville transformed into community garden

An unused piece of land in Coalville is now a community garden.

Friends of Greenhill Tenant Association received an £8,000 grant from the Bardon Hill Community Fund to develop a plot of land for community use at Cropston Drive.

Volunteers from the council’s repairs team helped to build garden furniture, including a greenhouse, and housing contractor, Alliance, carried out the groundwork as part of their social payback scheme.

Lorraine Nicholls, Treasurer at the Friends of Greenhill Tenant Association, said: “Our late Vice Chair, Keith Nicholls, initially came up with the idea of a ‘grow your own’ garden for the community.

“We want to welcome residents of Greenhill of all ages, whatever their individual needs, be it physical disabilities, mental health issues or social isolation, etc. 

“Alternatively, they could just come along for cup of tea and make new friends.”

The aim of the garden is to encourage residents to donate fruit and vegetables all of which will be given back to the local community.

Councillor Roger Bayliss, Portfolio Holder for Housing at NWLDC, said: “It’s great to see unused spaces like these being developed and turned into something positive for the community.

“The Friends of Greenhill Tenant Association had a fantastic vision for the space, and I’m really pleased to see all their efforts come together.

“I hope that residents enjoy the new community garden and I look forward to seeing it grow in years to come.”

The community garden will officially open on Monday 25 July.