Peterborough councillor helps bring flower bed back to life with help of community

The Goldhay Community Flower bed is a project started by Labour councillor for Orton Longueville, Heather Skibsted.

Cllr Skibsted said the two council flower beds in The Paynels, Orton Goldhay have been untended for a number of years and were becoming very overgrown. Starting in September 2019, together with some hard working and committed local volunteers, a team cleared the vast quantity of weeds, dug both beds over, planted both beds with flowers and covered the surrounding areas with woodchip.

Along with Tony Cook from PECT, they also planted a number of trees and painted the railings back to their original bright red colour.

Cllr Skibsted said: “Recently, we have erected signage courtesy of Gary Francom Services to show that this is a community flower bed for all to enjoy and to encourage any green-fingered volunteers to come and get involved in maintaining and developing this flower bed for the enjoyment of all in the local area. “Some perennial wild flowers were donated by Up the Garden Bath, a new and exciting non profit making social enterprise who operate from the Orton area, and Family Voice who have their office at the Goldhay Community Centre nearby and have offered support and refreshments while work was carried out.

“We have had anonymous donations from two local residents who were very pleased that these flower beds have been taken in use after so many years and also a donation from the Orton Longueville Parish Council who support community projects to beautify green spaces in the area.

“We hope that these flower beds will be appreciated by many and encourage the community to help maintain and look after this area for the enjoyment of everyone. Gardening is always a “work in progress” and provides physical and mental well being for all those who get involved.”

For anyone interested in getting involved call Heather on 07572 463890