On what felt like the first sunny day of ‘flaming June’, four fantastic Goodgym runners gave up their Sunday lie-in to cross The Mersey, into the unknown territory of Runcorn.

Becky, Chris, Sam and Mat travelled across the new Mersey Gateway Bridge to join Pauline at the site of an exciting community garden project...’The EnTyre Garden’, in Halton Lodge.

Lisa and Claire, the two visionary and inspiring ladies behind the project we’re on hand to explain how it all started, and share their plans for the future....and provide cups of tea and chocolate cake! 😋

Just a couple of years ago, Sycamore trees and overgrown bushes covered the two green spaces on the estate. Close to houses and a small car parking area, the trees were damaging parked cars and the bushes were blocking pathways and damaging fences. Claire approached the local housing association and requested the removal of the troublesome flora...and permission to develop it as a community garden.

Since then, Lisa, Claire, family members and local children have spent every spare moment digging over the land to remove rubble, roots and rubbish. A generous donation of tyres are gradually being filled; first with a layer of the reclaimed rubble to stabilise the structure, and then with the sieved soil from the plot. Years of decomposing bark chippings have made the soil rich in nutrients, perfect for growing a wide range of plants. Already, lettuce and strawberries are thriving, along with a range of colourful flowers that brighten up this little oasis.

Lisa and Claire are hoping that their efforts will encourage others to follow suit, so that the whole estate may benefit from fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers growing on their doorstep.

Long term plans are already in motion, as friends and neighbours make donations of money, seeds, plants and labour to make The EnTyre Garden Project a success for the entire community, not just this year, but for years to come.

The children have a vital role to play in the planning and development of the gardens. The only limit is their imagination. Lisa’s children, in particular have been fully involved since the beginning; her daughter, Charley, came up with the design for the garden logo, which has been digitised and will, eventually, be made into a colourful sign, using plastic bottle tops.

Reusing and recycling is an important part of the project, and future ideas include a tree stump table and tyre chairs, shopping trolley planters and tyre planters painted as ladybirds and minions, to name but a few.

We can’t wait to see how this project develops in the future...and have been invited back to share in a celebration barbecue later in the year.