We are really proud of the work our Caretaking Team is doing, so we have three great examples to share with you.

1. Saltcotes Estate (as pictured above)

Feedback from residents on the Saltcotes estate was that the community centre garden was looking quite tired and in need of a little TLC. So we gave the Caretaking Team, along with some of our fantastic Kickstarters, the challenge of turning it around.

They spent a day on-site ripping out old shrubs, edging the grass, painting the knee rails, and planting and then hanging wall pots. They then re-shrubbed and planted over 300 spring bulbs that will be flowering in the coming weeks.

It was a hard day's work, but we think they did a great job in sprucing up the outside of the centre – what do you think?

 Saltcotes Listing

 

2. Derwent and Kilner Avenue, St Annes

Whilst on a walkabout on Derwent and Kilner Avenue in St Annes, local residents told us about some issues they were having with bin bags.

They have a weekly collection of bin bags from the local council. However, the bags were a magnet for seagulls and vermin, and residents would regularly find the bags ripped open and their contents were strewn over a wide area.

This was causing a health hazard and making the area look dirty.

Our team arranged for wooden bin stores to be erected and for wheelie bins to be delivered. This has transformed the area and immediately resolved the issues of nuisance animals. 

Here is the area before, with litter strewn all over the grass.

 Kilner Ave St Annes Listing Before

 

The image below shows the area now tidied up

 

 Kilner Ave St Annes After Listing

 

 3. Lower Lane estate

On our Lower Lane estate, we were approached by an elderly resident. He told our team that several years ago there was a bench at the entrance of the estate that was used by many people who would sit and enjoy the view and have a nice chat with anyone passing.

We consulted a number of residents in the area asking if they thought this would be a good addition to their estate again.

They all agreed it would be beneficial to have a bench there again.

So our team installed a wooden bench and also did some planting of shrubs and evergreens and over 300 daffodils that should bloom in the spring.

This was just a simple thing to do to improve the look of the estate entrance and also to improve engagement between our residents as they enjoy sitting on the bench and taking in the views and the comings and goings.

Lower Lane Bench News Listing Image - Small (2)

 

For details of our upcoming walkabouts for 2022, visit here: Area Walkabouts 2022 | Progress Housing Group (progressgroup.org.uk)