Sunnyside Landscaping Engagement Activity
Building Better Opportunities’ programme funded jointly by The National Lottery Community Fund with match funding from the
European Social Fund. It aims to tackle the root causes of poverty and unemployment, such as physical and mental health issues, homelessness, addiction and much more.
In an engagement activity run by Sunnyside and two BBO participants, we worked on clearing and landscaping the pathways and gardens behind the South Hill Centre used by young children and their parents from the local Pre-school.
Led by Ian from Sunnyside, it soon became clear that Michael, one of the BBO participants with a horticultural background, and Spencer, another BBO participant with his own gardening experience, were keen to get on with the job in hand and quickly cleared the overgrown ivy, nettles and enormous amounts of brambles, from the plants and bushes that had been obscured by years of neglect.
The team was also tasked with clearing a huge bed of stinging nettles, whilst Spencer tackled the aggressive brambles. Michael managed to uncover two rhododendron bushes that had been covered in ivy for years, whilst Ian cleared away more overgrown weeds before starting to lay the weed proof membrane with Michael and Spencer, which was covered with a layer of bark chippings and raked over. Daffodil and spring bulbs were planted in the areas we had all cleared, and we look forward to seeing them coming through next year. Both participants worked really well together and engaged with Ian to produce a massive change to the area in just two days. It was a great feeling to be working outdoors and the weather was kind to us.
Jeremy sent huge thanks to our participants and commented “The new barked area and the pruned and weeded areas make a huge difference to our Pre-school which overlooks them.
I am looking forward to seeing the full results, with the beauty of the flowers produced from the bulbs planted, in the spring next year. Their hard work was really appreciated.” Paula BBO Mentor