Mayor leads a garden makeover for this town ‘eyesore’
A VACANT piece of land on the gateway to the market town of Leek has been transformed into a garden display, writes LES JACKSON.
The unused wasteland at the bottom of Russell Street in Leek, which has for years been an eyesore, has now been developed into a raised garden display.
Leek town mayor, Councillor Stephen Wales personally managed the delivery of the project to its final completion during the last four weeks.
Councillor Wales said: “The land and its use has been contentious, and it had been neglected for a number of years.
“I have been determined to use the land to create something attractive and colourful in this key gateway into Leek town centre.
“The area is not suitable for a ‘sit in garden’ as traffic flow is high there.
“The lightbulb moment was to enclose the floral display and make it a walk-by/drive-by feature. The raised beds are tiered and designed to optimise the view of the display.
“It is a sunny spot, so a suitable planting scheme was key.
“The assistance I had from Jane Tattersall in choosing the best possible selection and indeed the location of plants was invaluable.
“The materials are entirely ethical and from sustainable sources using local companies where possible.
“Also helping to plant out and clearing the site was my wife the Mayoress Julie Wales who joked this was her only official function all year.”
Sponsors of the initial planting included Protech Electrical and Anthony Keates Hairdressing who are neighbours to the site. Neil Corbishley Aggregates also contributed to the project. Councillor Wales also personally donated materials to the scheme.
Mr Wales added: “The garden is now completed at a time of recovery and revival. It will celebrate the town’s resilience and strength of community during this past year.”
Moorlands Climate Action and Royal Horticultural Society member Jane Tattersall advised on the planting of the site, researching and sourcing the plants used to fill the containers.
She said: “We had a number of important factors to take into account.
“We had to choose plants that would support pollinators, would look colourful, and be enjoyable for the town’s residents and visitors.
“Other considerations were the restricted size of the site, the many polluting vehicles that pass by every day and the main utility pipes that pass directly underneath.
“With advice from the RHS, a dwarf cherry tree, Prunus nipponica ‘Brilliant’ was chosen as the centrepiece.
“The planting includes the herbs rosemary, thyme, Munstead and Hidcote lavenders, dwarf Buddlejia, Perovskia and Echinacea. Bee-friendly spring bulbs such as Tete a Tete daffodils and alliums will be planted in the autumn.”