Residents win national recognition

Residents in Bakewell are celebrating after winning national recognition for their efforts to create a stunning community garden.

The neighbours were nominated by Peak District Rural Housing Association for a tpas Award, and travelled together to The St Johns Hotel in Solihull after being shortlisted in the Excellence in Community Action category.

The annual Awards are designed to recognise and reward the unsung heroes in our communities by showcasing the inspirational success stories of residents who are bringing lasting change to their neighbourhoods.

Resident Sue Smethurst said that although the group didn’t win overall, they were treated to a fabulous three-course meal at the regional event.


“Eight of us went to the awards ceremony and we loved it!” she says.  “Every one of us had a great time and we felt very proud to have been nominated.”

“We’re now looking forward to developing the garden as we’ve got a £1,500 grant from Peak District National Park.”

The money has already been used to buy a greenhouse and to create a vegetable patch, where the residents are growing everything from lettuces and radishes to broccoli and peppers.

In addition, the garden, which is overlooked by PDRHA’s scheme of one and two bedroom flats on land off New Street, now boasts an environmentally-friendly water butt and compost container, a water feature and bird feeders to try and attract wildlife to the area.

The residents had already restored and painted donated picnic benches and garden seats so there is somewhere for people to sit and enjoy the view.

The garden, which has brought Sue and her neighbours together since they started work on it in March 2017, will also be showcased during this year’s Bakewell in Bloom and Bakewell Secret Gardens events.

Sue says: “We’re all continuing to work hard on the garden to keep it looking at its best.  It does look lovely and it’s something we can all look out on and enjoy.”