**The Secret Garden Project (SGP) is a community interest organisation that seeks to rejuvenate areas within Newbury that have fallen into decline, making them much more attractive and useful for the community. Successful and ongoing projects include the Globe Garden and Lock Island areas by the Kennet and Avon Canal in central Newbury. Here, what were overgrown and underused areas are being transformed into pleasant and restful places that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike and where new raised beds are being adopted by local groups to tend.**

SGP has begun to renovate an otherwise redundant area entirely surrounded by housing. We are seeking funding to do further work as detailed below:

**The story so far:**
A redundant area of land bordering on Parsons Close/Westfield Way/Western End in Newbury was identified as being in need of renovation and rejuvenation. The area was being used by local youths to congregate with possible use of drink and drugs and rubbish was also dumped there.

Following a resident survey, the Secret Garden Project has worked with Sovereign Housing Association, who own many of the surrounding properties, and West Berkshire Council, who own the land, to clear the area and begin the rejuvenation. So far, the raised beds have been cleared and replanted, fences lowered to make the area more open and accessible and a compost bin and water butt put in place.

This work has been carried out by volunteers from the SGP with help from a few residents and other support from local businesses. The next phase, for which we are seeking funding, is to build on this development to make the area a vibrant and welcoming community space supported and maintained by local residents.


**Phase 2:**
Community resource:
Growing food: As there are a number of flats surrounding the area and houses with small gardens, we would like to provide more raised beds specifically for growing vegetables. This will require the building of new raised beds, stocking with plants, buying tools and secure storage for these.
Projected cost:
2 x locally sourced oak planters (built by volunteers) £1500
Garden tools incl watering can £300
Lockable storage £400
Initial planting £300
TOTAL £2500

Food waste recycling: The flats do not have access to food recycling facilities and not all those in houses have the wherewithal to recycle their food waste. To encourage this, it is proposed to install a food compost tumbler that can be used by everyone in the community. The compost would be re-used in the garden.
Projected cost for a secure, robust, rat-proof community food and green waste composter
Joraform Compost Tumbler JK400 (incl shipping) £1305

Encouraging community engagement and development
Currently, at the end of Phase 1, the area is tidy, pleasant to look at and being cared for by SGP volunteers in the main. In phase 2, we want to encourage local residents to use the area as a recreational space to promote community cohesion, as well as being involved in the maintenance of the beds. We intend to make the area look more vibrant and attractive to encourage people to use it. The current fencing is, old and in need of repair. One side of the area is adjacent to a private house and garden and the fencing there is quite dark. Our plan is to erect panels along the fence and commission a local artist to work with residents to produce artwork that is in keeping with the garden. This will encourage community participation and reinforce the message of responsible environmental action.
Projected costs
Artwork £3000
Panels for the fence £500

To encourage people to use the area, it is proposed to install benches. Currently the only seating is to perch on the side of the raised beds.
Projected cost
2 x Community designed benches in steel and local oak £800
TOTAL £4300

Open Day at the garden
It is proposed to hold events in the garden to encourage the local residents to discover what is available to them and how they can get involved. This will include the painting of the fence panels, as detailed above, and also information regarding what can be grown in the new vegetable beds.
Projected cost of Open Days: £500
Projected cost of Phase 2 = £8605 + 10% contingency TOTAL: £9465.50

**Phase 3**
The area is enclosed on all sides by housing and is accessed by footpaths on 3 sides. It is not easy to spot unless you know it’s there.

In Phase 3, we intend to replace the existing fence along one side that overlooks a green area adjacent to the flats. This would be a colourful, sustainable fence made from recycled plastic and have low maintenance costs. It would make the area more visible and welcoming.
https://www.recycledfurniture.co.uk/Fencing-and-Raw-Materials/Picket-Fencing?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_feed_or_listings&pl=STD&ccv=Y&srsltid=AdGWZVRQzA6-sk2V9I0y67yqAaxW671SZq5qJIK5R67ollFAa6gFEyynpFc
Projected costs for fencing:
Picket fencing: Multicoloured – £9,500 or Green - £7,700
Posts - £1,900
Gates - £1,260
Fixings - £200
TOTAL : Multi = £12,860 Green = £11,060
Labour would be by volunteers or employees of Sovereign Housing Association at a cost yet to be determined.

The London is a Housing for Older People Scheme in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Residents would really like to install new seating area in a shaded area of the outdoor space. This would be a place where residents could go to read, relax and socialize.

The idea is to replace the old shingle and ground sheet from the area shown in the picture with new shingle and a stronger membrane to try to prevent weeds from penetrating. New seating will then be added to create a quiet shaded seating area. This will include a bench and a love seat.

The project will cost £2058

We at the newly formed Briary Road Community Group, a Sovereign resident resident group, would like the following enhancements of our community green space:

* Eco-planters made of recycled material for a community garden, a Briary Road Community Garden
* A solar-powered water feature for small insects and animals, and community wellbeing
* Two further water butts for recently planted trees and plants
* The re-purposing of a disused bin store, for communal storage for the community, including items such as gardening cans, chairs, hoses, outdoor games and play activities for families, with a solar-powered light source
* A community leaf vacuum for collection of leafs for compost + a compost bin

A group of residents at St Johns Hill Flats in Ryde on the Isle of Wight would like funding to create a communal sitting areas.

The idea is to install a child's picnic table, an adult picnic table and a bench to create a communal seating area on the green space next to the flats. A picnic table will also be installed on the gravel area next to the washing lines. (Please see pictures).

This will provide residents, families and children areas so sit, relax and socialize, bringing the community together.

The cost of this project is £2514