New Pocket Park is being created on a patch of land

The park idea, originally conceived by the Nether Edge Neighbourhood Group, has been steered through eighteen months of stutters and stumbles by Ruth Bernard, vice chair of the Neighbourhood Group.

When I asked her whether her feelings were of joy or relief with the project finally nearing completion Ruth just smiled.

Originally a patch of boring black tarmac, the area has been transformed since early August into the beginnings of the David Pierce Pocket Park.

David was a stalwart of Nether Edge being involved in many events and activities and was Chair of the Neighbourhood Group for a number of years. David passed away last year and the park is named in his memory.

The tarmac was ripped out, at no cost, by the kind auspices of Amey and a contractor, Richard Bacon, who built the structure and laid the topsoil.

The topsoil was again provided free of charge by Amey.

The garden was originally designed by Fran Halsall, Peter Vaughan has been the project manager and the planting is now being handled by Sandra Laja, with a team of around twenty volunteers, all pledging to help with the ongoing maintenance.

There has been several offers of donation of plants and it is all looking good.

A crowdfunding campaign provided much of the funding, along with a substantial individual donation by a local couple who have lived in the neighbourhood for forty years and were very pleased to give something back to the community.

This was enough to see the project to completion, and we now look forward to the next couple of years when, the garden will gradually mature into a much loved quiet haven in the heart of Nether Edge.