While out and about on a community pop-up on Wilbraham Street in St Matthew’s, our Engagement and Communities Officers noticed a rise in littering and anti-social behaviour in the area.
During conversations with tenants on the day and during follow-up visits littering was raised as a key concern. Tenants also shared their thoughts on how the area could be improved, with many saying they would love to see more colour by planting trees and flowering shrubs.
What happened with this information?
After the pop-up, a joint visit was arranged with our Greencare team to take a closer look at the area and explore possible improvements. During the visit, it was noticed that many properties have wooden fences that, whilst in good condition, have started to fade over time. A solution that was discussed was to give the fences a fresh coat of paint, which will not only increase their lifespan but also add colour to the area.
Greencare also highlighted areas where shrubs could be planted, to try and reduce littering, and spots where blossom trees could be planted to add a splash of colour and vibrancy to the neighbourhood. A suggestion for the shrubs was Gorse as this has yellow flowers all year round and is fast growing. For the trees, Flamingo, Maple, and Acer have all been suggested.
The outcome of the project
In June, the area saw a real transformation during our community improvement day, with a sea of purple as CGA colleagues rolled up their sleeves to help brighten the area. Colleagues collected three bags of litter and gave six fences a new lease of life with a fresh coat of paint.
These improvements are just the beginning. All the work carried out is in preparation for the Winter planting season, when flowering shrubs and blossoming trees will be planted to bring colour to the area.
We will continue working alongside tenants to bring colour, pride and improvements to the area, and will share more updates as the project develops!
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