November 30 2007
Golden gardens scoop lottery jackpot

The numbers have come up for a Bedford community after their project to turn disused garage sites into two community gardens was voted the winner of a lottery competition.

The Golden Gardens project, developed by bpha in partnership with residents in Goldington, was named the winner of The People’s Millions competition following a televised appeal.

After receiving the most phone votes The Big Lottery Fund will now provide £80,000 to turn the sites at Milburn Road and Elliott Crescent into two gardens, including a green training area for residents to grow food and plants, and an open access garden for all ages to enjoy.

Goldington resident Maggie Vince said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have won the grant. The project will bring the community together to create something really special.

“As well as providing a pleasant environment in which to sit and socialise, the gardens will also help local people to develop practical skills.

“We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took the trouble to vote, and we can’t wait to get started with the project in the new year.”

The project received the most votes for the area after an appeal, involving local schoolchildren, was televised on the Anglia TV evening news and through the Daily Mirror.

Carol Solaiman, senior community development officer at bpha, said: “We are committed to supporting local communities through projects that have real benefits for residents.

“We are delighted to have been able to work with residents in Goldington to develop this project, and to support the lottery bid. The gardens will turn disused garage sites into an attractive environment which supports our overall objective to create places that people can be proud of.

“We are looking forward to working with as many residents as possible as the project develops.”

bpha has worked closely on the project with schools in the area, including Goldington Middle School, Woodside Middle School and Newnham Middle School.

Wanda Chappell, assistant headteacher at Woodside Middle School: “The children here are very excited about the project and delighted to be involved in something that will provide a real boost to the area.”