Councillor Gerald Lee Park

Just as Darlington Council examines more ways to cut costs and save money, you would be excused from believing that now was an impossible time to envisage the development of a brand new park for Park East Ward. Especially as the ward boasts one of the finest provincial parks in the county.


Well, of course you would be wrong. In association with Guerilla Gardeners Darlington Division and South Terrace Residents Association, we have plans.

The objective is to create Britain's Smallest Park, to be named after next year's Darlington Town Mayor, Gerald Lee.

For too long, this small patch of earth has been allowed to fester as one of the most neglected patches in the town. Until Councillor Paul Harman took an interest in it, this piece of council-owned land between Victoria Embankment and Feethams South was a mess. Covered with litter and dead plant material, it was a carbuncle on the south side of Darlington's face.

All of that is to change with our new plans.

First, we plan to fork and weed the plot, and systematically litter-pick.

After this, we are arranging for path liners and bark chippings to be delivered to the site. This will enable us to divide the area into planting areas, whilst leaving an access for maintenance and bill-board posting.

And this is where we come in. Our final task is that of planting.

The location is wild and north facing, so provides a small, but not insurmountable challenge.


Perhaps some of the more successful South Terrace gardeners can recommend plants, and maybe share some of their established clumps. Generally, we will be looking for a colourful herbaceous border feel of hardy perennials.

The piece-de-resistance will be the 'Veronica Tree'. We are planning to have a Wish Tree within the planting. Due to the size of the park and the presence of the bill-board, we cannot have a proper tree as such, but propose a Wish Bush!
Your ideas on this will be invaluable.


It is not often that we get the opportunity to take hold of our own environment to create something special and lasting. Here, we can make a difference. Are you in?