SECRET GARDEN PARTY

On bank holiday Monday 25th May our Secret Garden Party was revealed to be within the walls of the old Fire Station yard on Valley Road. The sun shone as hundreds of people occupied the space, brought plants they had grown and planted up the raised beds with a lovely array of herbs, veg and flowers. People were also able to plant up portable planters that were made from old dustbins into funky designs and take them home. There was lots of fun to be had in the crafty kids area with sunflower planting, pot decorating and the making of bugs on sticks, as well as learning about photosynthesis and the importance of bees.

The yard was adorned with colourful umbrellas, banners and bunting and the hay bales made for a very comfortable space. Inside the marquee there was a lovely cake café and the garden party speciality of tea, cucumber sandwiches and a cream tea being served. A solar powered sound system played an eclectic mix of music throughout the day.

If only every day could be like this! We wanted to show that there are different possibilities in life. This space is earmarked to become a car park, and although car parking is an issue in Hebden Bridge, so is people’s lack of access to land and food growing possibilities. We feel there are enough car parks in the centre of Hebden Bridge. What we would like is a more imaginative use of land such as community gardens where we can grow vegetables and come together socially. And solutions to transport issues should be aimed at reducing the traffic not tarmacing over the land to accommodate it.

There is a now a permanent garden left in the fire station yard. We will be watering it and nurturing it as it develops and invite people to be part of this. We will be organising a watering rota for when it is dry and some work days there and hopefully the garden will grow and grow. Contact info@hebdenbridgetransitiontown.org.uk if you would like to join up with people doing this.

The gates are now unlocked so please feel free to go into the garden and treat it like your own! It’s a good place for a picnic, safe kids cycling, or a moonlit glass of wine…