With the generous help and support of several partners, the Wilmorton community gardens are now ready for the next stage of development.
Last month, civil engineering company Taylor Woodrow generously supplied, delivered and laid 203 tons of aggregate along the whole of the former compound area. The Taylor Woodrow team spent months planning the project, from putting risk assessments in place, to coordinating site visits and collaborating with other suppliers.
This space will be transformed into an outdoor classroom delivering horticulture and construction skills courses for YMCA Key College students. There will also be an area with raised beds and a greenhouse, which will be used by residents for wellbeing activities, and for volunteering. Last year over 200 people volunteered, giving over 300 hours of their time at the gardens.
Kat Millar, Public Liaison and Social Value Coordinator for Taylor Woodrow, said: “At Taylor Woodrow we pride ourselves in trying to become part of the communities we work in, when we saw an opportunity to create a practical working and construction learning area that could help improve opportunities for Key college students, and hopefully promote construction as a career path, I knew we just had to get involved.
“It’s with thanks to our suppliers TARMAC, Go Green and GAP as well as our own Taylor Woodrow team that we were able to bring the vision to life. We are truly proud of what this collaboration has created and cannot wait to see the progress as the area continues to develop.”
Stuart Aughey from Gap Hire Solutions added: “Working on this fantastic project was an absolute pleasure. The work that YMCA Derbyshire does for people of all ages is truly amazing, and much needed.”
Gillian Sewell, YMCA Derbyshire CEO, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to see the transformational work taking place at the community gardens. We are extremely grateful to businesses like Taylor Woodrow and Gap Hire Solutions for their generous support, and belief in what we are doing as a charity to help young people and communities, belong, contribute and thrive.
“I am also grateful to our hard-working YMCA team and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly over the past couple of years to create an outdoor learning zone for young people and adults.”
This stage of development is a continuance of work that started in 2023, when Derby-based specialist contractor Cawarden made a generous donation of its people and equipment to demolish a large structure, that was hindering development in the gardens.
Wavensmere Homes and Lambe Construction also donated their time and equipment last year to aid with the clearance and disposal of overgrown and hazardous areas within the gardens.
All this hard work and generosity has paved the way for the opening of an eco-friendly Green Youth Hub later this year. Funded by the Youth Investment Fund, the building will be used by YMCA Derbyshire Key College to run vocational training and education courses for young people.
