Progress as area cleared for new Derker community garden

Childrens’ play areas with goalposts will also be put in when the project is completed.

The garden, which was dreamed up by resident Leanne Brooks, has been supported by local councillors and even MP Debbie Abrahams.

The group even has a beekeeper ready to keep bumblebees – a vital pollinator – in the garden.

The site, located near Chesterton Road and Shakespeare Road in Derker, has been abandoned for some time.

Now, work is underway to transform the field into a community garden, along with areas for children to play.

Chair of the group Leanne had the idea after struggling with her mental health and realising that Derker had no allotments.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Leanne said: “When you’re up there, and it’s quiet and you can just hear the birds, it’s absolutely lovely. You can’t hear the traffic – it’s just a lovely space to be in.”

On the latest development, Leanne continued: “It was a big mound of dirt and overgrown stuff.

“It was all sorts of weeds and stuff that had overgrown, along with self-seeding trees.

“Cllr Angela Cosgrove, Cllr Leanne Munroe, and First Choice Homes all put together to pay for it to be shifted by Saddleworth Plant Hire.

“It’s exciting – it shows us how much space we have to create this community garden, especially since we will be putting up an eco-shelter there.

Before: The mound (Image: Derker Community Gardens)

“While it’s cleared some habitat, we are going to create more. There’s a bit at the bottom where we’re going to put a wildflower garden.

“That was the biggest bit to get out of the way, and now we can see what we’ve got to work with going forward.”

Now, Leanne is going through the process of obtaining planning permission – which the group hopes to get by the new year.

Leanne continued: “We keep hitting little bits of red tape and things because the land used to be used for education purposes.

“We need to get permission from Sports England now to use the top end, even though it’s never used anyway.

“We want to have an open event on May 1.

Wide shot of the cleared mound (Image: Derker Community Gardens)

“St Theresa’s Primary School used to use it years ago – it was so overgrown my husband’s been mowing it for the last few months.

“We’re going up there this weekend to try and get it so it can be used. There are a lot of holes as it’s been left so long.”

In addition to the eco-shelter complete with a kettle, Leanne hopes to put in goalposts and areas where children can play ready for the opening.

More information about Derker Community Gardens can be found on its website.