“Golden Gardens” was born in 2007
The idea was to create two contrasting community gardens, on disused bpha garage sites in Goldington, Bedford:
An open access garden for all ages to enjoy, in Milburn Road and
A ‘green’ training area, in Elliot Crescent, where the local community could grow food and plants.
In August 2007, after submitting an application to the “People’s Millions BIG Lottery”, bpha’s “Golden Gardens” project was chosen to go forward to a public vote. (The BIG Lottery initiative holds a public vote on a range of projects, to allow people to choose how Lottery money should be spent.)
Woodside schoolchildren enthusiastically donned T-shirts to promote the Golden Gardens bid and they were featured in the November 2007, Anglia TV programme. On 29th November, Golden Gardens won the public vote - see the delighted smiles on the children’s faces when we were presented with £80,000;
The idea was to create two contrasting community gardens, on disused bpha garage sites in Goldington, Bedford:
An open access garden for all ages to enjoy, in Milburn Road and
A ‘green’ training area, in Elliot Crescent, where the local community could grow food and plants.
In August 2007, after submitting an application to the “People’s Millions BIG Lottery”, bpha’s “Golden Gardens” project was chosen to go forward to a public vote. (The BIG Lottery initiative holds a public vote on a range of projects, to allow people to choose how Lottery money should be spent.)
Woodside schoolchildren enthusiastically donned T-shirts to promote the Golden Gardens bid and they were featured in the November 2007, Anglia TV programme. On 29th November, Golden Gardens won the public vote - see the delighted smiles on the children’s faces when we were presented with £80,000;
Now the hard work was to begin;
A steering group was formed, including members of the local community and bpha staff from; Community Development, Housing Management, Property Services and New Initiatives departments. Also partnering this project, were representatives from; Bedford Borough Council, Street Rangers and a local professional gardener - who kindly provided free gardening advice and support throughout the project.
Throughout this project, bpha have supported a community group of over 20 residents, all of whom were actively involved from the early stages. The local children and young people continued their involvement by putting forward their own ideas and designs for the gardens and they enjoyed being involved in painting the colourful mural at Elliot Crescent.
From the start, this project has captured the imagination of the local people - the final designs for the gardens and all the activities for the opening event were decided on by the residents of Goldington.
Thus, two ugly sites, that had previously attracted vandalism, graffiti and anti-social behaviour, were transformed. They are now two beautiful places, where residents can now meet together to tend plants, grow their own food or simply to relax & enjoy the outdoors in pleasant surroundings.
A steering group was formed, including members of the local community and bpha staff from; Community Development, Housing Management, Property Services and New Initiatives departments. Also partnering this project, were representatives from; Bedford Borough Council, Street Rangers and a local professional gardener - who kindly provided free gardening advice and support throughout the project.
Throughout this project, bpha have supported a community group of over 20 residents, all of whom were actively involved from the early stages. The local children and young people continued their involvement by putting forward their own ideas and designs for the gardens and they enjoyed being involved in painting the colourful mural at Elliot Crescent.
From the start, this project has captured the imagination of the local people - the final designs for the gardens and all the activities for the opening event were decided on by the residents of Goldington.
Thus, two ugly sites, that had previously attracted vandalism, graffiti and anti-social behaviour, were transformed. They are now two beautiful places, where residents can now meet together to tend plants, grow their own food or simply to relax & enjoy the outdoors in pleasant surroundings.
In July 2009 we entered into "Anglia and Britain in Bloom" and won a special award for 'Best Community Project'. Goldington won the Neighbourhood Award. We also won the Times and Citizen/Frosts Garden Centre's "Community Garden of the Year 2011". Golden Gardens have now won this award twice and are the only garden to have done so, and Bedford in Bloom.
It's now almost 2014 and our gardens continue to evolve; Milburn Road site is being developed into a vegetable growing site and we have had great success with our family gardening courses. At the Nursery Garden, we are now selling our produce and, with more volunteers coming forward to support us, we are having fun learning and laughing together.
It's now almost 2014 and our gardens continue to evolve; Milburn Road site is being developed into a vegetable growing site and we have had great success with our family gardening courses. At the Nursery Garden, we are now selling our produce and, with more volunteers coming forward to support us, we are having fun learning and laughing together.