Local Waste Ground Transformed

A consultation between local residents and school children resulted in local ‘taskforce’ The Arkwright Meadows Community (AMC) being formed.  Their vision was to develop an area of land and create educational horticultural project that provides recreational facilities for the surrounding community.

Everyone kept us in the picture along the way. When it became complex, Ziaur and Penny explained things to us clearly, right throughout the process. Ziaur even attended some of our committee meetings, to make sure that we all thoroughly understood the implications. This was so helpful. 

An area of land was identified that although adjacent to two inner city schools, was being used for fly-tipping and not only looked unsightly but was fast becoming a health hazard to the local people.

The Committee secured a Creation Grant from the Countryside Agency under the ‘Doorstep Greens’ grants scheme. With the support of the City Council and working with the local children, the project developed with some wonderful design ideas for the garden. Inspired but recognising the need for more help, the group approached Nottinghamshire ProHelp.

Initially, member architects Fellows Hallatt produced some outline drawings for a ‘community café/shelter’ however a need for legal support was also recognised. The agreement with the Countryside Agency needed to be formalised and the group decided that it would be beneficial for the organisation to be incorporated. Legal ProHelp member firms Nelsons and Edwards Geldard provided the necessary assistance to negotiate the terms of the agreement and set up the limited company.

The project has also benefited from support provided by Nottinghamshire Cares. Companies including Capital One, Eversheds, Gala Coral Group and Marks & Spencer provided volunteers and donated goods to help with some of the physical regeneration of the garden.  To date, 69 volunteers have provided nearly 400 hours of support to the project. They worked along side local school children, planting bulbs, hedges and trees. Groups of employees have given their time, manpower and enthusiasm to help create the garden and support their local community.

The AMC committee has ensured that the local school children are regularly involved in the development and, in the longer term, expect the school to run educational horticultural classes and projects within the garden.  Anita Wakefield, employed by the committee as Finance & Administration Worker said “The assistance provided through ProHelp has been pivotal to the project. We would not have got this far if we hadn’t had that help”.

One Nottingham, Nottingham's Local Strategic Partnership, has identified the Bridge Ward (incorporating the Meadows) as one of the priority areas in its Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. The Community Strategy focuses on young people in the first phase.