Diggle Street Development bid

A neighbour, Victoria, noticed that although she has children and lives close, she rarely visits Diggle Street Park.

From 2021 - 2022 She started asking questions and learning other people’s perceptions of the park. Working with Springfield Beech Hill Gidlow group, we discovered a deeper issue with anti-social behaviour.

As we kept looking, we realised a lot of this is to do with the park design itself. There is no proper seating, so people sit on equipment - which is offputting for people who want to use it, and the hills also make hiding spots, and it's poorly maintained.

There are no flowers, no shelter from the sun etc. The park needs some improvement and has loads of potential to be a wonderful community space.

We found a large fund to apply for the money and have been chatting all around the neighbourhood to get ideas of what people would like to see.

FEBRUARY 2022 Two play days were hosted. One by St Andrews at St Andrew’s Parish Centre and one by community members at St Anne’s Community Centre.

Over the two days, 111 children and their parents, carers, grandparents or grandads had a great time. Thanks to the Holiday Activities Fund, everything was free, and lunch was provided too. Over £50 was placed in donations boxes which will contribute to the May days.

FEBRUARY 2022 We received a load of cash support from our local Cllr, Phyll Cullen, to help us carry on partying and growing together.

Money was contributed to the community party, dog poo bags, mulch for the garden, an entertainer for afternoon tea, set up costs for Family Craft Club and a whopping £6000 towards levelling the land at Diggle St Park to make it a more open and safer space.

Family Craft Club on Tuesdays at St Anne’s and Afternoon Tea at the Wellfield started this month.

We put together a new plan, including seating, a chess table, an orchard, trees and new flower beds, and gathered quotes from local contractors to do the work.

Unfortunately, we just found out our first bid was unsuccessful, but we’re not giving up and will apply again in April. This is to be continued!