Sheffield students to turn derelict land into community garden | News

A derelict, overgrown plot of land is being transformed into a thriving community garden thanks to a collaboration between University of Sheffield students and Scraith Wood Tenants and Residents Association (TARA).

A derelict, overgrown plot of land is being transformed into a thriving community garden thanks to a collaboration between University of Sheffield students and Scraith Wood Tenants and Residents Association (TARA).

The project, developed by University of Sheffield landscape and architecture student Sam Penrose, was one of one hundred winners of a national initiative which aims to create new green spaces for communities across the UK.

The Nature Hubs Fund, a partnership between Hubbub and Starbucks, will fuel the development of 100 green space initiatives across the UK, providing essential access to nature at the heart of communities near Starbucks stores. It received over 600 hundred applicants, with ‘Sam’s Garden Project’ one of the winners receiving £6000 in funding to bring it to life for the people of Scraith Wood.

According to a recent survey², just over a third of people in the UK admitted to spending more than an hour a week in nature. It is estimated that with a growing population, the UK needs 4,000 new green spaces by 2033 just to maintain current levels of access to green space.¹demonstrating the pressing need for more community green spaces.

To address the issue, Sam designed his garden project to focus on sustainability, accessibility and community involvement. Through a series of community consultations and exhibitions with the local community, its landscape design evolved to feature a mix of evergreen shrubs, trees, seasonal flowers and a paved area with raised plants and seating, providing a welcoming communal area. The garden project aims to provide local residents with a place to sit, relax, grow vegetables and meet for social events; it was designed to be a sustainable, low-maintenance and accessible space for all local residents to cherish.

Sam Penrose, said: “Designing projects behind a computer screen made me yearn for the chance to make a real, physical difference with the skills I had learned in my course. The garden project allowed me to get my hands dirty, quite literally, and create a scheme on site rather than leaving the project in the design phase.

“I hope this project inspires further collaboration between University of Sheffield students and local communities to improve green spaces in areas that otherwise don’t have access to the funding or knowledge to implement the change they need.”

Peter Thornett, Chairman of Scraith Wood Drive Tenants and Residents Association, said: ”I am very passionate about the importance of a strong local community. For two years I wondered how to restore a disused play area/abandoned garden. It seemed to me that this area should be the heart of the council estate, but as COVID and lockdowns hit the country, the dream of community gatherings seemed more distant. Not only do I appreciate the need and benefits of a strong community, I really wanted to make it a reality.

“Communities are built in the spaces between houses. What better communal area than a year-round flower garden capable of producing edible crops. A gathering space and a resource. Enter Sam from the University’s Landscape and Architecture course.”

Alex Rayner, managing director at Starbucks UK, said: “From the beginning, Starbucks was more than just coffee. Every day around the world, our partners support the communities in our stores and the neighborhoods we are part of. Starbucks UK Nature Hubs mark a new milestone in our aim to make a positive contribution to every community we serve, helping to transform local areas into vibrant green spaces that bring people together in nature. I’m grateful to our partners for bringing them to life, and I can’t wait to see the joy and benefits they bring to our communities.”

Construction of the garden is currently underway, with student volunteers and local residents coming together under Sam’s guidance to bring the garden to life in the Scraith Wood area of ​​Sheffield, located just outside Hillsborough. A grand opening will take place at the end of June with the Mayor of Sheffield in attendance.

For Sam, the initiative was an opportunity to connect with the community and tackle a real-world project. Local residents expressed their enthusiasm and appreciation for the garden, praising the hands-on experience the University’s School of Architecture brings to the project.

Andy Clayden, Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture at the University of Sheffield, said: “It is truly exciting and rewarding to see our students proactively engaging with local communities and applying the knowledge and skills they have acquired to effect positive change. Sam has shown real tenacity in not only working with the community to develop a proposal that meets their needs, but then going ahead and helping to secure the funding to make it happen.”