It used to be a corner people walked past. Now they stop.
Cold in January
Back in January, the space in Galley Hill, Milton Keynes was easy to ignore, a corner full of leaves and debris. Somewhere things gathered, but nothing really happened.
The MacIntyre Ground Force group changed that.
They started by clearing it: ten large bags of leaves, rubbish removed, space opened up again.
I picked up the leaves and put them in the bags to be taken away
said Martin.
I cleared all the rubbish from the area
added Jay
What had been neglected started to feel like somewhere people might actually notice.
Back in February
This time, it was about care and detail: cutting back the rose bushes, clearing weeds, shaping the space so it could grow again.
I did that,
said Fred, after cutting away the dead rose pods.
Then they finished it by adding bark to protect the soil and keep the space looking good.
I loved carrying the bark and spreading it across the bed,
said Jay.
Planting in March
By March, they were doing more than restoring, they were planting.
Onions and strawberries in the vegetable beds. Petunias in the street planters. Learning how to handle each plant and give it the best chance to grow.
I planted flowers in the ground,
said Martin.
I enjoyed making the flower beds look nice,
said Jay.
And people noticed.
A lady came up to me and said thank you for clearing the rubbish,
said Malcolm.
The organiser saw it too:
Brilliant work by all of you… you guys are amazing.
The reason it changed
What used to be a forgotten patch is now something different: a place that’s looked after, growing, and part of the community again.
And the group aren’t just working in it, they’re the reason it changed.
