Joining together to make improvements

Buy photos » Dave Morris (left) and friends tend to the flower beds in Red Hill Close. Picture by Marcus Mingins 3612013MMR. Order this picture at www.buyphotos247.com.

RESIDENTS old and young alike have gathered together for a project to improve the look of their Studley street.

Flowerbeds, hanging baskets and herb gardens have been installed in Red Hill Close as part of the scheme which was the brainchild of Dave Morris.

Donations have flooded in from nearby gardening centres, meaning the group has been able put together a variety of areas down the street, including raised beds for elderly and disabled residents.

Dave said: “I firmly believe what we’ve got here is good. Old people, young people and disabled people are all involved and are all looking after each other

“When our housing agencies came out and did the gardens, there was no personal touch so we decided to take it on and do it ourselves and have been given the agencies’ blessings to do it.

“We have been given nearly £2,000 in materials but the man hours which have been put in are priceless.”

The group also buried a time capsule, including a newspaper with details of the death of Neil Armstrong, a mobile phone, coins and photos and will soon be completing the next stage of the scheme by installing a water tank which will hold up to 1,000 litres of water for their plants.

Bob Bevington, one of the helpers, added: “The children have been wonderful. Normally kids would be jumping all over something like this but they really respect it and they all come up and ask what we’re doing and why so it’s educational for the kids as well.

“One lady on the road has been here 12 years and was surrounded by conifers so it’s the first time she has been able to see out the window and now she doesn’t need a light on in the middle of the day.”

Anyone who can sponsor the group or advise them on the best herbs to use for their herb garden should visit Red Hill Close.

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