The transformation of an area of Lichfield renowned for fly-tipping has won an award.
HomeZone Living and its partners won the award for the Leyfields improvement project from the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS).
Leyfields received the Green Project/Initiative in the Community Award for the Midlands region, as part of the TPAS Connecting People Awards 2008/09.
The Leyfields project is an open green space situated in North Lichfield. The area had a number of issues including suffering with a reputation as a fly-tipping area and the local community wanted to turn it around.
A group of 60 local residents teamed up with the North Lichfield Initiative (which includes HomeZone Living, Lichfield District Council and Lichfield City Council) in November 2007 to obtain lottery funding of £10,000 to transform the area into an urban oasis.
The Forest of Mercia Youth Education Team planted a variety of young saplings to form a woodland area, HomeZone colleagues rolling their sleeves up and local schools got involved in their half term holidays.
Local gardeners and builders installed a pathway through the site ensuring easy access for wheelchair users, Staffordshire Wildlife Youth Rangers planted 200 Hawthorn bushes around the edge of the site to improve security and a troop of Brownies achieved their ‘gardening’ and ‘help in the community’ badges by planting raised beds and over 400 primrose plants.
It is hoped that the Leyfields project will have a lasting impact on the community of North Lichfield and beyond.
Mike Kinghan, Chairman of North Lichfield Initiative, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled this huge partnership project has been recognised in this way. It has been fantastic to see local people and agencies come together to create such a wonderful space for all the community to enjoy. These are highly competitive awards and we will be keeping our fingers crossed for the national round in July.”