Those of you who walk, cycle or drive past the Centre will have noticed the stunning Pocket Park at the front of the Centre.
We applied for and were successful in getting grant funding in 2019 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to develop the ‘Pocket Park’.
We used the money to completely re-design the space, creating a series of raised beds, now planted with beautiful perennial plants, attractive to pollinators (butterflies, bees, etc.) This green space was a safe haven during the Covid pandemic and continues to be a place of sanctuary for local residents, local children and our volunteers.
Alongside the flower beds, we were grateful to the Council for funding new play equipment for younger children.
All in all, we’ve now got a wonderful new space, to be enjoyed by all of the community. It’s absolutely lovely to see the children running through the flowerbeds, following the stepping-stone path we’ve created; and to have helped raised awareness of the biodiversity around us.
We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from local residents. For example, one young child commented “It smells of nature here now” – what a lovely thing to say!
We promised you something special and, despite the heavy rain, we got it planted out. The Gladstone Connect garden is a haven in the city centre, boasting a fantastic array of wildlife attracting plants including fennel, lavender, mullein, lady’s mantle and a huge range of tasty herbs. A few local charities and organisations supported us at the Centre throughout lockdown to maintain the garden so it can be enjoyed by local residents throughout the seasons. Huge thanks go out to Community First (Peterborough), Up the Garden Bath, Wildheart UK, Olive Branch Community Garden and Crega Landscapes who have all worked tirelessly on the upkeep of the space.
It’s not our Park; it’s yours! It belongs to the community, and so we’d like to ask you to join with us in keeping it looking special. If you would like to volunteer regularly or lend a hand every now and then please get in touch with the Centre Manager or pop along to our weekly garden club on Wednesdays from 1pm until 4pm.
