Sowerby Bridge News

Hopwood Lane Residents Celebrate New Garden

Hopwood Lane Neighbourhood Association are planning a special celebration on Sunday 26 July to mark the opening of their new Community Garden on New Bond Street, Halifax.

The Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr Arshad Mahmood, will plant a tree to provide the finishing touch to the garden at the official opening ceremony this Sunday. The Mayor will also unveil a plaque to mark the occasion. Local residents are invited along from 2pm, to meet the team responsible for creating the garden, and enjoy an afternoon of celebration.

Local resident, Nazir Ahmed says;
“The garden has really helped to bring the community together. Lots of local residents have helped in the development and the planting of the garden, and now that it’s finished, people are enjoying getting together in the outdoors.

“Local children in particular now have a safe place where they can meet their friends and play in the sunshine.”

The Neighbourhood Association has worked closely with Calderdale Council to see the transformation of an unused piece of waste land into an attractive green open space that the local community can enjoy.

The site is now securely fenced, allowing children to play in safety. New seating areas and pathways have been installed, with scented and exotic planting providing an interesting and colourful backdrop. The residents have planted hundreds of trees and shrubs around the perimeter of the garden to help screen nearby traffic, attract wildlife and provide an oasis of calm in this built up area of town.

Cllr Amanda Byrne, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Development said; “This project is a fantastic example of local community-led regeneration and has already made a big difference to the lives of people living in the Hopwood Lane area. The garden complements the new Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, and ties in well with the Council’s Hopwood Lane Regeneration scheme.”

The project was developed under Action Halifax’s Environmental Improvement programme, and was funded by Calderdale Council, Action Halifax, the Green Business Network and the Community Foundation for Calderdale. The Neighbourhood Association has been supported throughout by the Halifax Opportunities Trust.