The Chocolate Garden was an idea first born 3 and a half years ago by residents of ‘The Bournville’ in Weston super Mare. 5 residents attended a ‘Spaces by Design’ training course at Trafford Hall in Cheshire and worked with landscape designers to think of ideas on how to transform a currently derelict area of wasteland in the heart of their neighbourhood.
After 3 years of consultation and publicity, the group have finally achieved their dream! The group decided to create a community garden, opposite the already popular childrens’ park and right next to the shops, which could be a quiet, peaceful area for people to sit and enjoy.
The garden was named the Chocolate Garden because the neighbourhood is called ‘The Bournville’, the same as the famous chocolate made by Cadburys.
The picture on the left is how the site looked before. It was a derelict drying area for the flats next door, but since the washing lines had been pulled down became a haven for fly tipping and anti social behaviour.
.
Realising the dream to create the garden involved a lengthy and involved process.
The group first approached NS Housing, the landowner, to ask if they could build on the land. Members of BARA stood up in front of the Executive Team of NS Housing to show them their plans and how they wanted to transform the space. NS Housing were extremely supportive of their idea and agreed to allow the group to develop the land.
The group then fundraised money to pay a Landscape Architect to turn ideas into reality. Once plans were drawn up, and a scale model of the garden created, the group were able to undertake extensive consultation with the community at community events and holding information sessions for residents to come and see what it was all about.
Local people were extremely supportive of the garden however, the group did respond to some comments about disabled access and concerns over anti social behaviour. They were able to finalise plans which could then be submitted to the Local Authority to gain Planning Permission. Once Planning Permission was gained, the group had the necessary permissions in place to seek funds to build the garden. Due to some changes the estimated total for the garden was £108,000!! This included funds to pay an artist to complete a mural on the large wall within the garden, which would have a strong chocolate theme.
Fundraising for the garden included completing applications to the South Ward Neighbourhood Management Partnership. The group were lucky enough to be gifted £50,000 which meant with the £5,000 from NS Housing's Community Fund and £3,000 from Quartet's Community Chest fund meant the group were halfway there.
The group then applied to the Big Lottery Changing Spaces Community Fund for nearly £50,000. The group got through Stage One and had to complete more forms for Stage Two but finally, in March 2010, were told the fantastic news that their bid had been successful.
Work then began finalising the drawings, preparing tenders and choosing contractors. Work finally started on the garden in November 2010 and was completed (after some snow disruption!) in early January 2011
Alongside organising the contractors, a brief was drawn up to advertise for an artist to come and complete a design for the mural wall. The group wanted the history of chocolate to be painted along the wall, showing the journey the cocoa bean has travelled from the jungle of South America to Europe.
Out of 8 artists who responded to the brief, 4 were shortlisted. Examples of their work was displayed in the local community centre and local people were encouraged to vote for their favourite artist. Lee Kirby from Flipt Murals was the successful artist picked and he is well known for his vibrant, colourful wall art. Lee held a few workshops with people over the summer and finalised a design for the wall that the BARA group loved.
Once the construction work on the garden was completed, Lee was able to start his mural and after 10 days of working in freezing temperatures the wall was finished. See the gallery for pictures of the garden in progress and the mural wall.
The magnificent gates with Smartie shapes welcome you to the Chocolate Garden, which is located on Lonsdale Avenue in Wweston super Mare.
The garden has large beds with lots of different plant species in it and 4 fantastic benches made by Somerset Wood Recycling from wood salvaged from the Grand Pier fire in 2008! Some still have scorch marks! The garden also boasts a large pergola, with smartie shapes on the roof, and an archway with some original Cadbury pictures in each side. The tarmac is made up of 3 different colours imitating the swirling chocolate of melted chocolate, and the mural wall makes a stunning backdrop to the whole garden.
Come along and see for yourself!!
A party for the launch of the garden is planned for April 2011 - watch this space for more details!!!
The image above is of the site as it was...click on the document below to see a plan of the garden.....and images below of work in progress....more to follow!
After 3 years of consultation and publicity, the group have finally achieved their dream! The group decided to create a community garden, opposite the already popular childrens’ park and right next to the shops, which could be a quiet, peaceful area for people to sit and enjoy.
The garden was named the Chocolate Garden because the neighbourhood is called ‘The Bournville’, the same as the famous chocolate made by Cadburys.
The picture on the left is how the site looked before. It was a derelict drying area for the flats next door, but since the washing lines had been pulled down became a haven for fly tipping and anti social behaviour.
.
Realising the dream to create the garden involved a lengthy and involved process.
The group first approached NS Housing, the landowner, to ask if they could build on the land. Members of BARA stood up in front of the Executive Team of NS Housing to show them their plans and how they wanted to transform the space. NS Housing were extremely supportive of their idea and agreed to allow the group to develop the land.
The group then fundraised money to pay a Landscape Architect to turn ideas into reality. Once plans were drawn up, and a scale model of the garden created, the group were able to undertake extensive consultation with the community at community events and holding information sessions for residents to come and see what it was all about.
Local people were extremely supportive of the garden however, the group did respond to some comments about disabled access and concerns over anti social behaviour. They were able to finalise plans which could then be submitted to the Local Authority to gain Planning Permission. Once Planning Permission was gained, the group had the necessary permissions in place to seek funds to build the garden. Due to some changes the estimated total for the garden was £108,000!! This included funds to pay an artist to complete a mural on the large wall within the garden, which would have a strong chocolate theme.
Fundraising for the garden included completing applications to the South Ward Neighbourhood Management Partnership. The group were lucky enough to be gifted £50,000 which meant with the £5,000 from NS Housing's Community Fund and £3,000 from Quartet's Community Chest fund meant the group were halfway there.
The group then applied to the Big Lottery Changing Spaces Community Fund for nearly £50,000. The group got through Stage One and had to complete more forms for Stage Two but finally, in March 2010, were told the fantastic news that their bid had been successful.
Work then began finalising the drawings, preparing tenders and choosing contractors. Work finally started on the garden in November 2010 and was completed (after some snow disruption!) in early January 2011
Alongside organising the contractors, a brief was drawn up to advertise for an artist to come and complete a design for the mural wall. The group wanted the history of chocolate to be painted along the wall, showing the journey the cocoa bean has travelled from the jungle of South America to Europe.
Out of 8 artists who responded to the brief, 4 were shortlisted. Examples of their work was displayed in the local community centre and local people were encouraged to vote for their favourite artist. Lee Kirby from Flipt Murals was the successful artist picked and he is well known for his vibrant, colourful wall art. Lee held a few workshops with people over the summer and finalised a design for the wall that the BARA group loved.
Once the construction work on the garden was completed, Lee was able to start his mural and after 10 days of working in freezing temperatures the wall was finished. See the gallery for pictures of the garden in progress and the mural wall.
The magnificent gates with Smartie shapes welcome you to the Chocolate Garden, which is located on Lonsdale Avenue in Wweston super Mare.
The garden has large beds with lots of different plant species in it and 4 fantastic benches made by Somerset Wood Recycling from wood salvaged from the Grand Pier fire in 2008! Some still have scorch marks! The garden also boasts a large pergola, with smartie shapes on the roof, and an archway with some original Cadbury pictures in each side. The tarmac is made up of 3 different colours imitating the swirling chocolate of melted chocolate, and the mural wall makes a stunning backdrop to the whole garden.
Come along and see for yourself!!
A party for the launch of the garden is planned for April 2011 - watch this space for more details!!!
The image above is of the site as it was...click on the document below to see a plan of the garden.....and images below of work in progress....more to follow!
| chocolate_garden_plan.pdf |
