Our projects

 

Harlesden Town Garden, North London – Improvements

 

This revamp of the gardens brought them back into community use. Although they had always been a popular greenspace, their condition had declined in recent years. They had become overgrown, inaccessible and a focus for anti-social behaviour.

Brent Council, local charity Lift and the Friends of Harlesden Town Garden decided that something had to be done and they masterminded this revamp. New security fences were erected, a multi-use games area was replaced, a new children's play area was installed and a raised-bed area created for growing vegetables.

The garden was also landscaped, hedges, flowerbeds and a wildflower meadow were planted, a path was laid, and five benches installed, as was a solar-powered security lamppost with motion sensor to deter people entering the park at night.

In September 2012 Lift held a consultation event to determine what the local community felt was the best way to develop the park. Over 200 people turned up at the event and made their suggestions which were then collated and used to plan the revamp. People were then consulted further on the plans as they developed.

The Friends of Harlesden Town Garden were established in 2013 to improve the gardens by making them a more pleasant and enticing space for all members of the local community to enjoy and participate in its ongoing development.

The Friends of Harlesden Town Gardens held another event in July 2013 when over 100 people turned up to discuss preliminary layouts and suggestions. To complement this, the residents living next to the park were involved in a poll to determine the height and type of security fence to ensure that it would not adversely affect them. The rejuvenation of the park was seen by local residents as critical, as Harlesden is one of the most deprived wards in the UK.