Story: Michelle Cook
Photos: Rohan Francis
Carwood Estate, tucked away on the edge of Burngreave, became a hive of activity on June 16th when the Hanging Basket Day and Clean Up was held. This has become an annual event organised by Carwood TARA. This year it was bigger and better than ever, with 12 different agencies involved.
Volunteers from the estate busily made gorgeous hanging baskets for sale at a bargain £5 each, refilling the baskets from last year. Meanwhile groups of people set to work litter picking and tidying up the shrubs and flower beds in the seating area outside the community room and the ‘Bullring’ walled area.
Amongst the hard working diggers were children from Yewlands school as part of a project in partnership with Greenwatch Rangers. Gavin Breward Student Support officer said,
“We’ve brought young people here today to work with the Park Ranger. They’ve worked really hard today and they’re doing a good job.”
Liam, a pupil from Yewlands said,
“It’s good. We’ve been digging and grafting. We’ve cleared these beds.”
The children were able to make and take some hanging baskets back to school with them.
St Thomas Church, Crookes fetched over volunteers who were visiting all the way from North Carolina!
Cllr Jackie Drayton, busy in the corner planting new herbs and plants, some donated by Sheffield College Horticulture Dept, said,
“It is really great to see so many people all pulling together to make their estate look nice. I think everyone is having a nice enjoyable day, there is a real feeling of community spirit ”
Veolia, Street Force and Sheaf Training supplied the equipment and willing hands to do more digging and litter picking. Also there were Sheffield Homes, who manage the estate, Burngreave Safer Neighbourhood Team NEAT Team, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and Cllr Ibrar Hussain.
As visitors gathered in the sun they could get information from the Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue as well as enjoying sandwiches and cakes, supplied by Carwood TARA and plenty of cups of tea and juice to keep everybody going in the heat.
People had the chance to talk to their local councillors and Sheffield Homes about what they would like to see on the estate. Local tenant Nagat Abdullah said,
“It’s a lovely day, everyone has enjoyed it. Everyone works together on this estate, we know each other.”
Dave Fisher, Chair of Carwood TARA said,
“It has been really good. People have been saying what they want to see happen on the estate.”