Looking Back on a Wonderful Summer Project at Reddings Lane Park

As Autumn settles in and the days grow shorter, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the fantastic summer project brought to life by the dedicated volunteers of Friends of Reddings Lane Park (FoRLP).

For years, a particular area of Reddings Lane Park in Hall Green had become a dumping ground filled with leftover food and waste. The volunteers knew they had to do something to transform this space into a more inviting and beautiful spot for everyone.

In their search for plants to improve the area, the group was fortunate to discover a surplus of plants from a pop-up sale thanks to Moseley in Bloom. Farina from FoRLP explained, “We have been on the lookout for some plants for donation and we just got lucky a few weeks ago where there was a surplus of plants.” With the help of WhatsApp groups that connect local resources, they were able to acquire the plants they needed.

The volunteers recycled tyres from a local garage and purchased paint and compost to complete the project. They added, “As of today, they are still thriving, and some of us have had a routine to go and water them due to the heat and add some temporary water bottles tonight for some self-watering from the expected thunderstorm.”

The project also saw the involvement of a local student eager to make a difference in the community. The Friends group expressed, “He is a young kid just wanting to do more for the community. He is very determined, and we hope he goes a long way.” This student aims to create a social platform to engage youth in volunteering and connect various friends groups and organisations.

The Friends of Reddings Lane Park are hopeful for the future. Farina mentioned, “We hope that if this doesn’t get vandalised, we can in the future trial this out with our more wider friends groups, especially where we see a lot of litter or fly tipping.”

The transformation has delighted park users, who are pleased to enjoy the outdoor gym without the eyesore of dumped waste. “All who pass by are delighted with the transformation and are pleased they can work out using the outdoor gym without (so far) no dumped waste.”

Looking ahead, the group has also added a more permanent sign to help spread awareness and has requested that local park users keep an eye on the plants and discourage littering.

As they move into the colder months, the Friends of Reddings Lane Park celebrate the spirit of community that brought this project to life and look forward to continuing their efforts to enhance the park for all.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Friend of Friends of Reddings Park, please complete the form below or feel free to keep up to date through the Friends of Reddings Park facebook group.

Member form: Become a Friends of Reddings Lane Park member

For more info, contact: [email protected]

Posted on 5th November 2024