Three More Enhancement Sessions in our Village Centre

TMAEG’s volunteers continue to be very busy in our practical action to improve or maintain the local environment and here are three recent stories. In all three cases we think that the differences between the before and after situations are striking and we hope you like the results.

1. Park Gateway Project – We started this scheme last year in partnership with Abbey Hill Parish Council – which provided the two planters – with the businesses and residential occupiers which front this pedestrian link to our Local Park, and with Milton Keynes Council which has provided much practical support. Working together, we have greatly improved the appearance of this important space in the village centre. Our pictures show the combined effect.

One of the planters – surrounding slabs cleaned up by the volunteers. — One of the planters – surrounding slabs cleaned up by the volunteers

One of the front gardens, tidied and planted up by the new occupants

The combined result – an enhanced gateway to the park

Two comments from our volunteers:

On Tuesday 13 May, five members of the Tuesday afternoon group continued with the enhancement project. There was much digging, weeding, scraping, sweeping, removing of rubbish (and the obligatory puffing and grunting!).Then the result of several hours hard work was evident. The colourful Valerian was complemented by the newly uncovered yellow spurge and fragrant lemon balm. With equal effort from the residents and the businesses, the area looks well tended and is a pleasure to behold. Margaret

TMAEG kinship : Working with TMAEG is an experience I would encourage others to have. The working tools and all other admin is nicely sorted out, there are tea and biscuits, plenty of fresh air, exercise and communal friendliness to have and, most importantly, one begins to feel a sense of community. Smita

2. Ashbrook School Through our Tuesday Team in particular we seek to keep up the maintenance of the schemes we have started upon. This area of school owned land is a good example; with two sessions a year we seek to keep it neat and tidy.

Before – landscaping recently smothered by explosive growth of ‘cleavers’ - the gardener’s bane this spring? — Before – landscaping recently smothered by explosive growth of ‘cleavers’ – the gardener’s bane this spring?

During - An afternoon’s gardening well underway — During – An afternoon’s gardening well underway

3. Kepwick One by one, we are targeting local eyesores as part of a general enhancement of this characterful village centre street. On Saturday 7 June, nine TMAEG volunteers, including two from the street itself, worked through heavy rain to tidy up one of Kepwick’s ‘squares’ and the footpath links to the local shops. This was our second project morning in Kepwick and, already, we are making inroads.

Before – a prominent but neglected corner

Before - an overgrown footpath leading to the High Street — Before – an overgrown footpath leading to the High Street

During - five very wet volunteers working on these two areas — During – five very wet volunteers working on these two areas

The results – a much tidier corner and pedestrian route through to the High Street.

We are very grateful to Fraser Davidson and his young offenders from Oakhill Secure Training Centre for their associated work in restoring and painting the bollards – a valuable finishing touch to the TMAEG volunteers work just the day before.

The results - a tidied up shrub bed and a cleaned up footpath — The results – a tidied up shrub bed and a cleaned up footpath

TMAEG’s third scheme of the day – a tidied up flower bed in a prominent position on the square.

TMAEG Volunteers enjoying a well earned break and shelter - at last — TMAEG Volunteers enjoying a well earned break and shelter – at last

Wet, wet, wet, however despite the deluge the Dunkirk spirit kept us going and the results of great team work, able supervision and a hot cup of coffee are in evidence. Lydia