George Potten- Millenium Garden
MARCH 2002

It all started in 1997 when I had the idea of turning a piece of waste ground on our housing estate into a garden. At this time I had my first stroke and had been retired from work. Although I could no longer work I was still very active in my mind and felt I had something to give and was not going to sit around and wait for the inevitable. We got in touch with our local community projects officer and she was just as enthusiastic about the project. The next thing was to set up a committee, that was the easiest bit as everyone wanted this to go ahead.

We then started to raise the necessary capital, after working out a rough cost of the project I came up with a guide of between £14,000 - £18,000. Two housing associations gave us £200 each, and the county council recycling group donated as much composted waste as we needed. We accumulated equipment and reached the figure to get charity status for this type of project. I didn't realise what we were taking on, my phone bill soared and so did those of other members of the committee, my wife was not pleased but when I get my teeth into something I don't let go. Two neighbours, Lou and Dave, sent letters out and made loads of phone calls as well, all of these costs we took on our own shoulders. We wanted to make sure we didn't stagnate as a lot of good ideas do. Armed with all of this we started to apply for grants from the lottery, we were turned down (first set back). More meetings and we tried a different approach and asked Ground Force if they would help. (Second set back) they sent a photo of the Ground Force team; I suppose we could have tried to auction this to raise funds! So we decided the only way forward was the media, we had lots of photos taken and interviews with the local newspapers. Our local MP and our local councillor both endorsed the project.

The next set back was that the local community project officer left (third set back). It seemed that whatever way we went we were blocked, but with the determination we had and the community bond we have always had, we were not going to give up. Lou and Dave have, and still do, work selflessly on this project. I have had to step back from it a bit due to another stroke at the beginning of 2001 that left me with a speech problem and further paralysis in some of my limbs. We kept going, applying to masses of local companies for help. All the letters we got back were negative, most never even bothered to reply to us. Finally we applied for a local council grant that is for this type of project. Lou, Dave and I, on behalf of the committee, were invited to the council meeting to put our ideas to them. This was very nerve racking, Lou and I had to present the project to them at a table in front of them all, as I cannot talk very well Lou did the presentation, she put it across fantastically and my drawing was past around the councillors. They were very impressed and gave it the thumbs up. To our astonishment we were given the maximum amount possible of £15,000. I was absolutely choked, Lou had done a fantastic job of presenting our case, the chairman said that they had better finish on that subject as they all had lumps in their throats.

My work on this is now done but I will help with as much maintenance as I can and if need be advise other people who want to start their own. We have photos as the work has gone on and you can see them on the pages with short descriptions depicting the progress. Our main aim now is to keep up the garden and make sure that it is not vandalised. As I write this we have had some of the shrubs taken, it just goes to show what some people will stoop to just to save a few pounds, THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON CCTV AND WE AWAIT THE OUTCOME.

We have had great interest from the local council on this project and they have taken photos of the work in progress. I can only hope they feel as proud as we do on the out come. If it was not for them and the sheer determination of the committee and residents we would still be looking for help to complete it. There are so many people to thank I could go on forever. The garden is completely friendly for the partially sighted and for the blind, also for wheelchair users.

You can see by the photo below as the work progressed 13th February, at last after 5 long years of hard work the fencing goes up and the work starts on the paths.

After week three, shrubs are in and the lawns are being laid, the posts for the trees are in as well. The trees are planted and the lawns are laid. Just waiting for the benches and all the hard work has been done! What a transformation! The comments are fantastic and people are clearing up their own gardens. The benches have to be put in when they arrive.

AT LAST ALL THE WORK IS NOW COMPLETE!!

Thanks to George for sending in his experience. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)

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