We teamed up with Leeds environmental charity Hyde Park Source to create a biodiverse garden that gives back to the community and the wildlife.

Hyde Park Source worked with us to redesign the communal garden at our older persons’ scheme at Greenside Walk in Lower Wortley from an underused, uninspiring space into a vibrant garden.

Over multiple days in May, colleagues came together (despite the rain and hailstones!) alongside contractors from Equans, Gallaghers and external partners NHS and Krinkels to begin transforming the communal space. Huws Gray also donated the materials for the project.

Together, they planted a variety of trees, herbs and vegetables designed to grow and flourish over the years.

As part of the redesign, the garden will also have bug hotels for local wildlife and a vegetable library that invites the community to swap and share fresh produce.

Social Value Lead, Georgie Kay, who led the project, said:

“Working with Hyde Park Source and their team of volunteers to deliver a new biodiversity garden for our customers and wider community in Lower Wortley has been an absolute joy, and a reflection of our commitment to deliver social value within our neighbourhoods.

“Volunteers from across Leeds Federated, our contractors Huws Gray, Equans and Gallaghers, and wider corporate volunteers from the NHS and Krinkels have helped to create a space that will improve the health and wellbeing of all residents, enhance the air quality and be a space for nature to thrive. Thank you to all those involved!”

Gemma, from Hyde Park Source says:

“This project has been an absolute joy to be part of! It’s been wonderful connecting with residents and passersby who’ve taken an interest, and we’re so grateful to the amazing volunteers who’ve helped bring it to life.

“We’ve had such positive support so far. People have even offered to help water the plants during this hot weather, which has been incredible. It’s also been fantastic to hear such encouraging feedback about how the space has been transformed.

“At its heart, this project is about creating forest garden guilds and supporting biodiversity through thoughtful, community-led planting, and it’s inspiring to see it already making a difference.”