Community garden in Darfield blooming after helping hand from our Pride of Place scheme

VOLUNTEERS and library staff have transformed a disused car park into a flourishing community garden thanks to support from our Pride of Place grants scheme.

Darfield Library's community garden features bespoke planters, a sheltered bench seat and a “mud kitchen” where children can enjoy playing with natural materials.

It has been designed to be accessible to all, with planters set at different heights.

The £9,000 grant for this project funded materials such as planters, trellis fencing, a water butt, bedding plants, bark chippings, seeds and tools.

It also paid for six willow weaving workshops and the creation of a willow sculpture at the heart of the garden.

The result is a vibrant and welcoming space for the community to come together and engage with their environment.

Cllr Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “We’re encouraging everyone to Love Where You Live and are inspired by how this project has put down roots and begun to bloom.

“The Darfield Library Community Garden is fantastic. It has transformed the library’s surroundings, as well providing a space for socialising, relaxation, and learning new skills.

“It not only enhances the environment but also provides educational and recreational opportunities.

“It is a welcoming space where children and adults can learn about biodiversity, water conservation, and gardening.

“We’re proud to have supported this project through our Pride of Place grants scheme, which is all about enabling community groups to enhance the environment.

“With its commitment to biodiversity and ‘growing our own’, it also embodies our aim to create a more sustainable Barnsley.

“I look forward to seeing the lasting impact it will continue to have for Darfield.”

Our library staff have played an integral role in bringing the vision for this project to life.

They successfully applied for the Pride of Place funding and have visited schools around the village to promote the library and its new garden.

The welcoming space will also be used for summer events hosted by the library and fits the “story garden” theme of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

The volunteer group based at the library are keen to hear from anyone who is interested in volunteering to maintain and improve the community garden.

You don’t need any prior gardening skills or to bring any tools. Drop in to Darfield Library and speak to the staff for more information.

Our Stronger Communities team delivered the Pride of Place grants scheme, which was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

We have supported more than 50 groups to enhance their local environment and community facilities. 

Notes for editors

High-resolution images are available on request.

Captions: 

Image 1: From left: Library manager Karen Taylor, garden volunteer Deb Pinder and library manager Marianne Fraser-Hussain.

Image 2: The disused car park before work began.

Image 3: The garden beginning to take shape.

Image 4: The wooden planters and willow sculpture at the garden.

Image 5: From left: Library manager Karen Taylor, garden volunteer Deb Pinder and library manager Marianne Fraser-Hussain take a rest on the garden's sheltered bench seat.