Eyesore flourishes as self-sufficiency garden

The University of Leeds and Leeds City Council have a strong stake in the city’s future success. 

By working together with city partners, local businesses and residents, they aim to deliver real, lasting improvements to the lives of people who work and live in the city and wider region. 

Here is a tangible example of how research and partnership working brought about positive change for residents living in a suburb in which Leeds’ largest council estate was developed.  

Residents in the area demonstrated pride, resilience and a can-do attitude to help deliver a resource that bolsters food security and promotes mental wellbeing.  

They were supported by the University of Leeds working closely with Leeds City Council under the Leeds City Council Areas of Research Interest framework. 

Sowing the seeds of transformation

Seacroft residents, Linda and John Otley, decided to take matters in their own hands after seeing a piece of land between two rows of houses in their neighbourhood become plagued with rubbish. 

“I first approached Leeds City Council to see who the land belonged to,” said Linda. “I thought it would make a great community allotment. 

“I made a few calls and eventually found the right person in Housing and they proved to be really helpful. I learned it would be difficult to create allotments because there was no access to water, so my thoughts turned to creating a forest garden which they said would work better.”

“We then signed up to Climate Action Leeds, who helped us to secure some funding from the National Lottery to get the forest garden off the ground.” 

It took months to clear the weeds and the rubble, with Leeds City Council providing skips.  

Further grants from local Leeds councillors and the National Garden Scheme enabled the residents to set about planting fruit trees, fruit bushes, vegetables and a herb garden that they could use and enjoy. 

The residents formed a group called Seacroft Community Forest Garden, and the site itself became known as Seacroft Forest Garden. 

A helping hand came from Pete Tatham from the local environmental organisation Hyde Park Source who supported the group to do some initial designs. 

Hyde Park Source works with local communities to boost health and wellbeing through improving the environment. 

There are similar plots of land all around the Leeds district that residents would like to put to community use. This is where the University of Leeds came in. 

Researchers take on the challenge

University of Leeds researchers Marie Berthet Meylan, Rebecca Brunk and Paul Chatterton connected with Pete Tatham to address the problem through the Positive Impact Partners programme. 

Marie said: “The Research England Policy Support Fund from Policy Leeds allowed us the opportunity to collaborate with Leeds City Council and community organisations in Leeds to tackle shared challenges about adopting and maintaining disused pieces of land. 

“Right from the outset we wanted to have an open and transparent conversation to build trust and understand each other’s perspectives. We created the project’s funding application together with Pete and council colleagues in the Asset Management team. I think we built strong relationships as a result.” 

Rebecca said: “We understood that the level of pressure for local authorities was immense, but we were determined to prove that our collaboration would be beneficial and result in positive incomes. 

“Hyde Park Source had come to us to discuss those pieces of land scattered in and around neighbourhoods which had fallen into disuse. They were difficult to access and had not attracted interest from anyone who might have considered developing the land.” 

Marie said: “Our intention was to make it easier for residents to be able to approach the council about a site they have questions over and to be able to speak to the right person.  

“So, we are now creating a project building document to explain clearly and simply what residents need to do and how to go about it. It helps them become business ready.” 

Pete Tatham said: “We have been trying to address this challenge of bringing unused pieces of land back into use for years. 

“Having a research project up and running made a big difference. We began to understand the complexities that faced the council, such as managing risk and the statutory obligations they face.  

“We wanted to help develop a process that would support residents’ ambitions. Pursuing a research project turned out to be the right avenue.” 

Hyde Park Source has helped a number of projects, including Seacroft Forest Garden, and has won a Locality Award as a result. 

Council listens to people’s aspirations

Leeds City Council’s land-holding arrangements mean that sites tend to be either operational and used by a particular service, such as housing or children’s services, or managed as ‘void properties’. 

These void sites can sometimes be made available again for use by council services.  

Alternatively, if they are deemed surplus to requirements, they may be put forward for disposal with a view to generating money to support the council’s budget position.  

A third option can see another party taking over the management of a site by means of a lease or licensing arrangement.  

A more informal ‘service level agreement’, meanwhile, allows community organisations – for example, one of the city’s In Bloom horticultural and environment volunteer groups – to support the maintenance of a piece of land. 

In the case of Seacroft Forest Garden, Hyde Park Source signed a licence agreement with Leeds City Council on behalf of Seacroft Community Forest Garden group. 

A spokesperson for the council said: “We would always seek to work with local communities in instances where our city-wide partnerships and collaborative approach can result in a better use of pieces of land by local residents that are otherwise lacking a clear use. 

“The council is continually working to strengthen community engagement and we are proud of the development of a strong city-wide network of voluntary and community sector partners who we work alongside to improve outcomes for our communities. 

“The University of Leeds is a key partner and their research project looking at strengthening links between the public and community sectors has assisted in helping to promote wider understanding of the various asset management principles and consideration that the council has, as well as facilitating closer engagement between the council and community groups. 

“We hope that their work will result in further projects such as the Seacroft Forest Garden as it is clear that the benefits of such a scheme are far reaching.” 

Mapping out ideas

Pete Tatham enlisted the help of urban consultant Dr Mikey Tomkins to carry out some mapping to reimagine pieces of underused land. 

Mikey said: “We wanted to bring together ideas on nature recovery and create a map of what was possible in the neighbourhoods around Leeds. It made the projects more tangible. 

“I wanted the visual representation to inspire and advocate change. The intention was to create a bridge between the different groups and the council. Community engagement needs to be ongoing for projects to be sustainable.” 

Linda says that community access to the public land within her neighbourhood has made such a difference to local people. 

“We plant vegetables for local people to pick and use, and we take produce up to the local food bank,” said Linda. “Everything has to be eaten or used for another purpose. Nothing is wasted. People love having this as a local resource. I get a lot of satisfaction out of this project. It has been three years in the making but well worth it.” 

Further information

Leeds City Council’s Areas of Research Interest provide a starting point for conversations with academics by identifying existing research knowledge that would be of interest to the Council. They also highlight where the Council may have an interest in future research collaborations. 

Climate Action Leeds is a five year-programme funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund to provide a platform for individuals, communities and organisations to come together and take action on climate change in Leeds and beyond. 

The Positive Impact Partners programme connects third sector and civic organisations with researchers and students at the University of Leeds, supporting collaboration through research, teaching and the exchange of academic and practice-based knowledge to help solve challenges in our communities and beyond. It delivers work that contributes to the Supporting a Net Zero City principle of the University’s Climate Plan. 

Words by Jane Lewis, Corporate Communications Officer at the University of Leeds.

For more information:

• email Jane Lewis, Corporate Communications Officer, at j.lewis3@leeds.ac.uk
• or email the Media Relations team at pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.