(Image: T&A)
An overgrown allotment site that is regularly blighted by fly-tipping is being transformed into a green oasis in an inner city area of Bradford.
The area around the Whetley Grove allotments is dominated by terraced housing with little outdoor space.
But a new project aims to provide this area with a new green space for Girlington.
What will be created?
A £290,000 development will create a new seating area with picnic benches, open grassed amenity areas, a mini outdoor gym, balance beams and a small climbing frame, natural play features including landscaped mounding, a circular walking route around the site, new shrub planting, bird boxes and habitat enhancements, and areas specifically designed to encourage biodiversity and support local wildlife.
It will also retain six of the allotment sites.
One of the officers behind the scheme says the small scale park will provide green space on people’s doorstep.
When will it be ready?
Work began on Wednesday, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The scheme has been funded by Bradford Council, Active Bradford JU:MP, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Well Bradford, the NHS and Tony Bramall with support from RSA Playful planet.
'More local spaces for young people'
Saira Ali, team leader for landscape, design and conservation, said: “There has been a decline in demand for allotments in this area, and when areas of land like this are left they are hard to keep on top of and become overgrown.
"They get dumped on.
“We’ve been working with the community and partners in the area to look at options.
“We’ve been looking to improve access to green space for people who live here.
"We looked at this site and thought whether its use was still relevant, and if it could be brought back into use.
“We’ve got some great green spaces and parks in Bradford, but we want more local spaces for young people and parents going to school so they can play.
“We’re retaining six of the allotments because there was still some demand.
“Simple things like green spaces near your home can make a big impact on people’s lives.
“The area has a lot of terraced housing and Victorian streets, some houses are back to backs. There aren’t big gardens in this area so a lot of people don’t have that access to green space.
“It will also be a place parents can go and have a chat after the school run. People don’t have to travel to Lister Park.
"It will become a place for the community and different age groups to come together.
“The Victorians built some great parks – they are still the lungs of the city, but they can be quite a distance away for some people. We wanted to create more options for people to go to green spaces on their doorstep.”