Project summary.

‘The Brook’ a surface rain water drain running for 1.75 miles in Horninglow was once a place of beauty, where local people would often go to escape the bustle of urban life. However, the area became neglected and overgrown and used as a dumping ground for rubbish. The rain water drain clogged up, filled with rubbish and became filthy and foul smelling, particularly in the hot summer months.

As well as the main aims of the project identified at the start, subsidiary projects have been developed by residents to address other issues and improve the quality of life for the whole community.

Over the last ten years many achievements have been made, including:

  • Clearance of the embankment and new fencing in partnership with Trent & Dove Housing.
  • A Staffordshire Wildlife Trust environmental survey of the canal corridor.
  • Planting with the intention of improving local biodiversity, including a Tree for Life program and the planting of native fruit trees at the project gateways and 400 saplings which were donated from the Woodland Trust.
  • Annual community litter picks.
  • Creation of a community garden at Masefield Crescent in Horninglow.
  • Clearance of drainage grills and de-silting of the basin by Severn Trent Water.
  • Hedge laying learning sessions in partnership with Burton Conservation Volunteers.
  • Community BBQs and annual community fun days.
  • Development of community allotments.
  • Recycling, achieved through the construction of a plastic bottle greenhouse at the community allotment site,
    supported by Trent & Dove Housing and Fountains School.
  • Creation and ongoing construction of a community gardens at Beresford Close
    with support from Groundwork UK.

Project summary.

‘The Brook’ a surface rain water drain running for 1.75 miles in Horninglow was once a place of beauty, where local people would often go to escape the bustle of urban life. However, the area became neglected and overgrown and used as a dumping ground for rubbish. The rain water drain clogged up, filled with rubbish and became filthy and foul smelling, particularly in the hot summer months.

As well as the main aims of the project identified at the start, subsidiary projects have been developed by residents to address other issues and improve the quality of life for the whole community.

Over the last ten years many achievements have been made, including:

  • Clearance of the embankment and new fencing in partnership with Trent & Dove Housing.
  • A Staffordshire Wildlife Trust environmental survey of the canal corridor.
  • Planting with the intention of improving local biodiversity, including a Tree for Life program and the planting of native fruit trees at the project gateways and 400 saplings which were donated from the Woodland Trust.
  • Annual community litter picks.
  • Creation of a community garden at Masefield Crescent in Horninglow.
  • Clearance of drainage grills and de-silting of the basin by Severn Trent Water.
  • Hedge laying learning sessions in partnership with Burton Conservation Volunteers.
  • Community BBQs and annual community fun days.
  • Development of community allotments.
  • Recycling, achieved through the construction of a plastic bottle greenhouse at the community allotment site, supported by Trent & Dove Housing and Fountains School.
  • Creation and ongoing construction of a community gardens at Beresford Close with support from Groundwork UK.

Since the area was adopted by a resident management group in 2006, a sense of ownership and pride has been established amongst all stakeholders. The residents’ hard work and acceptance of the challenges that have arisen along the way has created an environmental and educational project that brings together communities and agencies and provides a sustainable area of beauty for all to enjoy.

The group of residents, having been inspired and encouraged, pro-actively start new projects to enhance their neighbourhood and engage with their community. The group takes pride in its status as a resident led project group and are passionate in upholding this ideal.

Tpas Connecting People Award 2008

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Special Recognition 2008

Runner up British Waterways Renaissance Award 2009

Creation of community allotments 2010

A series of allotment plots complement the community garden. These are situated along the embankment of part of the Kingfisher Trail. The area required clearing of overgrowth and rubbish to make it suitable to lay out the plot beds. The project team enlisted the help of young people who were involved at that time with voluntary work through the Princes Trust.  They provided the physical labour in this community project and succeeded in clearing the embankment in record time. The plots are now fully commissioned and were officially opened during the summer of 2010. A small contribution is requested from residents who wish to have one of the plots to help with upkeep. During 2014 some of the beds have been used to cultivate vegetables which have been donated to a local food bank.

Winner of the Community Engagement category, Regenerate West Midlands 2010

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Best Community Project 2011

Finalist National Housing Federation Community Impact Awards 2012

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Best Environmental Project 2012

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Best Environmental Project 2013

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Overall Impact on the Community 2014

Construction of a recycled plastic bottle greenhouse 2014

In order to maintain the interest of pupils from Fountains School with whom the project has built a very strong partnership over recent years, it was important to consider a project that would be new, innovative and fun to do. The idea of constructing a plastic bottle greenhouse was met enthusiastically by the pupils and the collection of 1400 bottles commenced early this year. During the summer the bottles were prepared, slotted onto poles and inserted into a wooden framework. The first bottle greenhouse built by a community project in Burton was ready for use before the end of the summer.

The project’s success and the enjoyment experienced by the school pupils in putting it together will be replicated in 2015 when they and volunteers from the Kingfisher Project construct another one in the school for everyone to enjoy and use within a sensory garden.

Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2016

Since the area was adopted by a resident management group in 2006, a sense of ownership and pride has been established amongst all stakeholders. The residents’ hard work and acceptance of the challenges that have arisen along the way has created an environmental and educational project that brings together communities and agencies and provides a sustainable area of beauty for all to enjoy.

The group of residents, having been inspired and encouraged, pro-actively start new projects to enhance their neighbourhood and engage with their community. The group takes pride in its status as a resident led project group and are passionate in upholding this ideal.

Since the area was adopted by a resident management group in 2006, a sense of ownership and pride has been established amongst all stakeholders. The residents’ hard work and acceptance of the challenges that have arisen along the way has created an environmental and educational project that brings together communities and agencies and provides a sustainable area of beauty for all to enjoy.

The group of residents, having been inspired and encouraged, pro-actively start new projects to enhance their neighbourhood and engage with their community. The group takes pride in its status as a resident led project group and are passionate in upholding this ideal.

Tpas Connecting People Award 2008

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Special Recognition 2008

Runner up British Waterways Renaissance Award 2009

Creation of community allotments 2010

A series of allotment plots complement the community garden. These are situated along the embankment of part of the Kingfisher Trail. The area required clearing of overgrowth and rubbish to make it suitable to lay out the plot beds. The project team enlisted the help of young people who were involved at that time with voluntary work through the Princes Trust.  They provided the physical labour in this community project and succeeded in clearing the embankment in record time. The plots are now fully commissioned and were officially opened during the summer of 2010. A small contribution is requested from residents who wish to have one of the plots to help with upkeep. During 2014 some of the beds have been used to cultivate vegetables which have been donated to a local food bank.

Winner of the Community Engagement category, Regenerate West Midlands 2010

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Best Community Project 2011

Finalist National Housing Federation Community Impact Awards 2012

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Best Environmental Project 2012

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Best Environmental Project 2013

Trent & Dove Impact on the Community Award Overall Impact on the Community 2014

Construction of a recycled plastic bottle greenhouse 2014

In order to maintain the interest of pupils from Fountains School with whom the project has built a very strong partnership over recent years, it was important to consider a project that would be new, innovative and fun to do. The idea of constructing a plastic bottle greenhouse was met enthusiastically by the pupils and the collection of 1400 bottles commenced early this year. During the summer the bottles were prepared, slotted onto poles and inserted into a wooden framework. The first bottle greenhouse built by a community project in Burton was ready for use before the end of the summer.

The project’s success and the enjoyment experienced by the school pupils in putting it together will be replicated in 2015 when they and volunteers from the Kingfisher Project construct another one in the school for everyone to enjoy and use within a sensory garden.

Queen Award for Voluntary Service 2016

ince the area was adopted by a resident management group in 2006, a sense of ownership and pride has been established amongst all stakeholders. The residents’ hard work and acceptance of the challenges that have arisen along the way has created an environmental and educational project that brings together communities and agencies and provides a sustainable area of beauty for all to enjoy.

The group of residents, having been inspired and encouraged, pro-actively start new projects to enhance their neighbourhood and engage with their community. The group takes pride in its status as a resident led project group and are passionate in upholding this ideal.