The Stockport group bringing unloved flowerbeds back to life

A volunteer-led community group have been working to take over empty planters and restore them back to their former glory.

Grow Edgeley, set up in 2019 by founding member Suzie Cloves, aims to bring together the local community and improve the way the area looks at the same time.

Meeting monthly, the group have planted various flowers and plants across two sites, one surrounding a car park and another in planters at the roadside.

Suzie Cloves, a founding member of the volunteer group Grow Edgeley

Suzie, 42, said: “We’ve got some lovely plants, it looks nice, you know, by most people’s visual measures it’s successful because it looks nice.

“But also, it seems to be really beneficial to people to know that there are other people around who are actually bothering to come out and do this.”

Since creating the group, it has gone from strength to strength, with help from Stockport Council in supplying tools and waste disposal.

Asked if the group had faced any obstacles, Suzie said: “Only pessimism, so no not really.

“There were a couple of people who really doubted that it was going to work because they had memories as children of pulling up plants because they didn’t have anything better to do.”

Perhaps the biggest challenge faced has been rats, visiting the St Lesmo Road site chasing bird food left by locals, which has led to warning signs now being left on small stones.

Painted stones have been left to dissuade residents from leaving bird food, which has been attracting rats

Surveys conducted before and after the planting by Grow Edgeley shows that bringing colour and life to previously uncared for areas of the town has had a positive impact on the community.

“I’d encourage anyone who wanted to do something similar to just give it a try,” Suzie continued.

“It’s the sort of thing where you can give it all the thought in the world, but until you actually just roll your sleeves up and give it go, then you start to find out what is possible with your local authority.”

Having picked up local awards and recognition from Cheshire Wildlife Trust, there has been an immensely positive reaction Grow Edgeley’s work.

More information about Grow Edgeley, including how to get involved, is available here.