Pocket Park - an ongoing success story

Our neighbourhood pocket park, the Gerald Lee Pocket Park, rose from the obscurity of a patch of weeds under a billboard to becoming one of the most desired and decorated ventures of 2014.

From this 


Via this

To this    

For those that missed the history, here are our earlier postings:

2nd May 2014: initial proposals for the park
21 May 2014: prelude to the big dig

7 June 2014: the big dig, undertaken exclusively by South Terrace residents and their families

18 June 2014: prelude to the big plant - with the Mayor, Amanda and the children
21 June 2014: the big plant - combining South Terrace residents, Friends of the Earth Darlington and Guerilla Gardeners Darlington

23 June 2014: nearly the finale

4 August 2014: the grand opening by the Mayor, Councillor Gerald Lee and the Mayoress, Mrs Lee

On 28 July 2014 the Daily Mail featured the park. The Grand Opening on 29 July 2014 was clearly a massive success, both for the park and the people involved, as reported by the Northern Echo on 30 July 2014 (click here and here to see the videos).





By 12 September 2014 the pocket park was voted category winner in the Darlington Garden Contest, with the award ceremony at Darlington Town Hall on 2 October 2014, award being received by Kendra Ullyart and Peter Plant.

Success did not end there. Despite political controversy, following assessment on 5 September 2014 when the leader of the council questioned the naming of the pocket park, the park went on to gain an 'Outstanding'  Award from the Royal Horticultural Society and Northumbria in Bloom in the 'It's Your Neighbourhood' ceremony, with a presentation to Councillor Paul Harman on 18 November 2014 in the Legends lounge in Middlesbrough Football Stadium.

The park shows the ability of a local community to make a difference. What awaits us in 2015? Well, lots more fun in the park, we hope!

Councillor Paul Harman, receiving our RHS 'Outstanding' category Award

The Big Plant - Britain's Smallest Park

'The traffic will be stopped...
The road closed...
Bands will be playing...
Hot air balloons will be launched...
'Miss Darlington' will be here, and the Mayor to cut the ribbon.......'

Ok, maybe not quite that organised. But the South Terrace diggers and the planters will be reporting for duty between 0915 and 1300 hours in the back lane west at the rear of South Terrace.

The event, of course, is 'The Big Plant', intended to re-define horticulture at the gateway to our Feethams Village, creating the latest and smallest park in Britain - the 'Councillor Gerald Lee Pocket Park', named after the town's Mayor - one man who has done the most for a litter-free Darlington.

On 6 June - as you know - about 20 residents and Guerilla Gardeners gathered to attack a scrap of land beneath the billboard hoarding at 82 Victoria Road - near the Barker and Stonehouse roundabout. We set about 25 square yards with our spades, forks and even a pick. Eight sack-fulls of rubbish later, the ground was cleaned and cleared, ready for planting. We were there; and we will be returning for 'The Big Plant'.

21 June is a long and magical day. 21 is the smallest number of differently sized squares needed to square the square. So it is a highly appropriate day to undertake squaring our oblong smallest park. 

Our aim for the day is to set out our brand new pocket park, pegging the area for sitting and for footpaths, and to plant up the remainder. We are expecting lots of plants - colourful, herbaceous, evergreen, annual, shrubs, flowers, ground-cover, creeping, climbing, ancient and modern. Where possible they should be able to withstand a north facing exposed plot beside a busy road. But gardening is a pursuit of chance - everything will be given a place - and those that survive will prosper.

Litchfield is watching as their UK title to 'The Smallest Park' evaporates. Naturally, we shall have the security of South Terrace's domestic pets on hand to calm any Staffordshire intruders and spoilers. Additionally, we will deploy South Terrace's secret weapon - the 'Stephanie Tea Stall' - which will be serving tea and biscuits to the workers and residents.

As you are gathering, the event is generating huge interest, both locally and regionally. Radio Tees are to attend from 0915 hours, and the Northern Echo is desperate to get their fill of photos. For those who have grandchildren, remember - this is the day that you will be recalling to them over the next few decades as the day you took control, and created Britain's Smallest Park.

Gerald Lee Park - the latest news

Building the smallest park in Britain in Victoria Road didn't present as the most 'catchy' idea for South Terrace Residents' Group - but the media have thought otherwise.

The Northern Echo and BBC Radio Tees gave it such prominence that even Burntwood Park in the Borough of Lichfield have got cold feet about their petite position on the podium. Amanda Llewellyn, our project co-ordinator, wowed the listeners of Radio Tees and the story went viral.

But - our ground-work preparation is yet to happen, and time is tight. The provisional day for the Grand Opening of the 'Smallest Park in Britain' is Tuesday 29 July, when the Mayor, Councillor Gerald Lee (wearing his Mayoral chain) and assisted by the children of South Terrace will cut the tape.

Gerald Lee and 'The First Dig'

Our days of action are to be 'The Big Dig' on Saturday 7 June, and 'The Big Plant' on 21 June. In each case, volunteers are asked to meet in the back lane west at South Terrace.

Those with forks and spades will be particularly welcome, but we also cherish others to serve tea from the urn, and distribute biscuits and cake. We are working on a theme for the day, currently a guarded secret, but which will be revealed in time.

One matter that is of particular importance for the Darlington Guerilla Gardeners is the environmental credentials of the project. Whilst Friends of the Earth have given us a resounding silence (they seem more preoccupied by demonstrating with placards, than digging with spades) - we are determined to give a new definition to 'the environmentally adjusted park'. Everything from drainage and seating - to planting - will respect indigenous principles.

Of course, we now need your plants! The fabulous Peter Plant has already offered to help. Will you?

South Terrace in Bloom

Our South Terrace garden competition in February saw winners and losers. Then, only no 24 managed to produce any winter colour, so today the blogger decided to re-run our prize draw. What staggering results! The May bank holiday weekend has brought out our intrepid gardeners and the results speak for themselves.