Wigan community digs in to tidy spare land

Green-fingered residents have embarked on a project to turn a patch of waste land into a wildlife garden.

Neighbours wanted to transform the plot, near St Marie’s Church and the bowling green in Standish, into a place where they can grow flowers and plants.

After getting permission to use the land, around nine volunteers have taken to removing weeds and getting the area all ready and spruced up.

Coun Debbie Parkinson said: “Local resident Lynn Cobley walks past the strip of land most days and noticed all the weeds and how it could be made to look prettier.

“She posted on Standish Friendly Gardeners and a few seemed to support, so I offered my help and Brighter Borough money and advised her to get permission as it’s bowling club land, which they gave straight away.

“I supplied high-visibility vests for safety and bags - and I have ordered a banner which they suggested to let people know what’s going on.”

Coun Parkinson said she is also looking at getting a bench installed when the work is done.

She hopes that planting and sewing can be completed in April when the weather is better.

She said: “Birkacre Garden Centre in Coppull have also kindly offered us £350 worth of plants, which is great.

“We’re going to be digging the land up and putting in plants and wildflowers which will be good for bees.

“The land is quite large but narrow with lots of weeds and there was a bit of rubbish and it will be good to do something with it.

“I thought the bench would be nice as people do walk from the bottom end of the village to do some shopping and it’s somewhere to have a rest.”

She added: “We’re also going to be looking at getting Standish In Bloom Started again as we come out of this lockdown and get Standish looking nicer.”

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