Salterforth Community Garden

Thanks to funding from Lancashire Environmental Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund work has begun on Salterforth Community Garden. 

This will be an environmentally friendly community garden for all of Salterforth residents to share, learn, volunteer together, plant, grow, relax, comtemplate and socialise. 

The idea is to transform the disused land (accessed from the canal towpath) by creating an environmentally friendly, fully accessible community garden for the community of Salterforth (schools, local residents, those mooring barges on the canal, community groups and local buisnesses) to share, learn, plant, grow, relax, contemplate and socialise whilst creating a natural habitat enhanced with food sources for wildlife, water sources, bees, nesting boxes, composting areas and more.  

The garden will include raised beds for planting herbs, fruit, vegetables, plants and flowers for all to share including our local pollinators in addition to a polytunnel to grow more fruit and vegetables (chillies, tomatoes, peppers etc.) and provide shelter in poor weather to give more opportunity to continue working.

In addition there will be a water catchment tank; collecting rainwater and plant trees for an orchard area and an area for all to relax and socialise. The whole garden will be for the benefit of the whole community and local wildlife.

We're excited about the impact this will have on the entire communty and the environment. We have heard many local residents say they would like an outdoor space/garden and don't have their own. It will provide a space for them and for our local school who have already expressed a wish to use the area to help their children (our future residents and Parish Councillors) to learn about the

We consulted 50 salterforth residents in person, asking them for their input on our ideas. 100% believed that the community garden would benefit the local community and wildlife. 100% of those living locally felt that they would use the garden in some way. 43 people said that they would like to help in someway and provided their details. The other 7 people said that they "might" like to help but didn't want to commit. These 7 people were provided with our contact details.

Some quotes received were "I think that would be perfect use of the space" and "My partner and i have been wondering what was going to happen and felt that it was such a waste. Please get in touch as we would love to help!"

We have support from several local businesses and community groups including Salterforth Primary School, Salterforth in Bloom, The Womens Institute, The Anchor Inn, Lower Greenhill Campsite, Salterforth Nursery (Garden Centre), Dalesview Caravan Park and Penine Lancashire Community Farm who are all keen to use the garden or support in any way they can. 

We are aiming for the garden to be fully accessible during April to September between 9am and 8pm and October to March between 9am and 3:30pm (daylight hours).

Local residents are aware that the land is disused and has been for quite some time. It is neglected and considered to be an eyesore by members of the local community, many of whom told us this during the consultation period. Now that we have been successful in securing this fantastic amount of funding from LEF and the National Lottery work has begun on the garden which will certainly improve the aesthetic qualities and make the environment more pleasant and comfortable. Provision of seating areas with a view of the garden will allow for enjoyment of the improved aesthetics.

Habitats for nature will be improved  which will give more opportunity to witness birds, bees, butterflies etc. and there will be access for people with mobility issues and people with prams and a polytunnel to ensure that the garden can still be enjoyed and that work and activities can continue in poor weather conditions.  

Repurposing this neglected, disused land as a community garden will provide valuable ecosystem services and promote biodiversity by providing natural habitats, planting native plants and enabling environmental education in the local community whilst promoting social inclusion for everyone.

The garden will help and promote the growth of the population of bees, birds, butterflies, moths, bats and other pollinators and reduce reliance of synthetic fertilisers by providing significant compost space.

The garden will help improve air and soil quality, improve water filtration, reduce local waste and food transportation miles. It will also increase the biodiversity of plants and animals and reduce air pollution and smells.

The garden will also protect the social environment by providing a space for the community to enjoy nature together. 

We hope you all enjoy it!