Cultivating community: designing a new garden in Salford

Families from Salford have been working with the RHS to transform a communal space into a thriving garden

Spruce Court residents were involved in the design for the new garden

Spruce Court residents at the teddy bear's picnic

Located next to the busy A6 in Salford, Spruce Court, a high-rise residential block, lacked a safe and inviting green area. Working with Spruce Court’s residents, the RHS and Pendleton Together, part of the Together Housing Group, have designed a new garden, transforming a once uninviting area into quality green space that is accessible to all.

“We are delighted to work with the residents and families of Spruce Court to create their garden space. Inspiring communities to grow and connecting people with nature is at the very heart of what the RHS aims to achieve, especially in urban areas.”

Andrew Swarbrick, RHS Community Outreach Manager
Young residents drew pictures showing what they would like to do in the new community garden

The teddy bear's picnic in the new garden

The transformation began in summer, involving Spruce Court’s residents at each point of the project aiming to engage even the youngest residents in the garden’s creation.

A teddy bear’s picnic event provided a fun environment and helped encourage children to share their imaginative ideas. They were asked to draw pictures showing what they would like to do in the new community garden, with spaces to play, support wildlife and spend time together coming out on top.

With initial ideas brewing, residents were invited to spend the day at the nearby RHS Garden Bridgewater. Taking inspiration from bright displays of salvia and buddleia, detailed planning took place with the support of RHS experts to create an inviting and accessible garden design that would come to life at Spruce Court over the coming months.

“I loved visiting the garden; it was an amazing experience and full of ideas.”

A young resident of Spruce Court

Explore the Spruce Court garden design

  • Grapes and thorn-less blackberries will grow along a pergola and trellis to optimise space and create a green barrier to the building’s car park.
  • Mown circles of lawn within areas of long grass allow space for family games, picnics and socialising.
  • A spring- and summer-flowering bulb meadow surrounds the lawn area, producing year-round, low maintenance colour and interest.

  • An eight-foot long wheelchair accessible picnic table sits in the centre of the garden as a space for residents to meet, hold events or activities.
  • ​Wildlife-friendly planting features in an area known as the ‘fruits and flowers foraging garden’. This will provide edible crops such as soft fruit, berries and herbs for the residents to harvest, with pollinators taking advantage of the floral display.

“Spruce Court Garden is shaping up to be a key part of the community here in Pendleton and it’s all thanks to the children and their brilliant ideas. They’ve been so enthusiastic about getting involved with the planning and now the planting too.”

Gareth Wilkinson, Customer Involvement Manager, Pendleton Together

Ground was broken at Spruce Court in December, and the RHS will continue to work with the residents of Spruce Court as the new plants grow. In spring, children will have the opportunity to sow sunflowers, marigolds and nasturtiums in their new garden.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.