Safeguarding Levenshulme's Urban Greenspace Society
[formally Secret Levenshulme Underground Gardeners]

Mission:

To promote cohesion within an ethnically diverse neighbourhood, to encourage a sense of ownership and empowerment amongst the community, and to enhance the residential environment and biodiversity in the area through the creation of a wildflower garden and peaceful meeting place.

Latest News:
From: Elaine Mills
Sent: 07 March 2011 4:55 PM
Subject: Chapel Street community garden

Hi Jamie

Just catching up with you about the community garden at Chapel Street in Levenshulme. The last I heard, the Heads of Terms were with the group for their consideration. Is there any progress on this? Are we any nearer to coming to an arrangement?

Your earliest response would be appreciated.

Thanks

Elaine Mills
Principal Regeneration Officer
South Manchester Regeneration Team
Hi Elaine Nothing has happened since our meeting at first street back in October. We tried to progress things by getting quotes from Manchester Contracts for the fencing but that never came through. We thought their might be some new developments with the changed situation at the Ark St/Park Grove Community Orchard site – but actually nothing has been offered up by the Council with regards not having to put up a fence. We understand that the Ark St area is already designated as open land / green space and the Chapel St site is still designated as development land. What the Council is offering/asking of us to provide makes the project pretty impossible and we don't think MCC will change their attitude to our proposals anytime soon. This coupled with the time it has taken, local people have, quite naturally, given up on volunteering and any hope the project will ever start - which leaves just a core group – not enough to run the project and therefore not truly a ‘Community Garden’.
Myself and the others have now concluded that we should decline the lease,
and formally wind-up SLUGs. It is a shame MCC poured cold water on this project from the start – but hey, we won the battle with the Baths so there’s hope for Levenshulme yet! Thanks for your support and help with this over the years Jamie - SLUGS

A meeting to discuss the MCC terms and the future of the community garden project was held:

WEDNESDAY 18th AUGUST at 7pm - Levenshulme Baptist Church, Elmsworth Ave

21st July 2010

The 'without prejudice & subject to contract' terms have finally arrived from the council. Please see the attachments at the bottom of this page.
Basically a tenancy of 3 years is on offer, terminable by either party with 6 months notice. They want surveyors fees of £300 + legal costs +£1 a year rent +rates and 'all other outgoings'.
We would have to erect a fence around the boundary and obtain planning permission for this. Erect no structures. Plant no trees, and be insured.

A workable solution? Discuss.....

29th December 2009

SLUG on BBC Radio Manchester!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p005pssd/Becky_Want_29_12_2009/
about 3hours and 10 mins into show

17th December 2009

We've hit the press! Click on the pics/links for full stories:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1185340_guerilla_gardeners_are_on_a_mission



12th December 2009
(FROM WARD CO-ORDINATION ACTION PLAN):
Chapel Street (ex-community centre) site SLUGS (Safeguarding Levenshulme's Urban Greenspace Society) wish to establish a community garden on the site of the ex-community centre in Levenshulme.
Progress at 11/12/2009 The site has now officially been declared surplus to requirements by Education Department. Ownership now lies with Corporate Property who are preparing a short-term lease for SLUGS (Safeguarding Levenshulme's Urban Greenspace Society).


2nd October 2009

really sorry about this. This is the line from corporate property:

The Education Department has completed drafting a proposal to declare the land surplus. This has been sent to the head of service to be circulated to the Executive member and the Deputy Head of Children's Services for their perusal/approval/signature. This was the situation at the beginning of August. I will chase corporate property on Monday as the officer dealing with this case only works Monday - Wednesday.

Thanks

Elaine Mills
Principal Regeneration Officer
South Manchester Regeneration Team


17th July 2009

I have tried to contact Corporate Property today who are drawing up the licence, however, the officer I need to speak with is not in work until next Tuesday. I will endeavour to speak with her then.
I would suggest you go ahead and apply for the garden whilst I progress the relevant issues as quickly as possible.
thanks

Elaine Mills
Principal Regeneration Officer / South Manchester Regeneration Team

13th July 2009

An exciting email came through to us to see if we wanted to apply for one of the 'back to back' gardens by Sue Beesley (who won the BBC Gardener of the Year competition, in 2006) at the Tatton Show.
Of course Manchester City Council still haven't produced this 'licence' we need to continue the work on the garden. It's unlikely they will produce it in time - or even alllow us to put the garden on the site if we won it. So, to not let levenshulme miss out on this oppurtunity we put it to the Levenshulme Community Allotment Project. - they were planning something like this anyway, so it's all guns blazin to try and win the garden for Levenshulme! - The Community Allotment Project are having a 'Sunshine and Vegetables' Day at the plot at the Tonbridge Road Allotment site on Sunday 19th July also as part of the Big Lunch.

27th June 2009

Email sent to Elaine Mills:


Message from Elaine Mills:

my apologies for the length of time this is taking. I have made enquiries with our corporate property department and education regarding progress in this regard. I await a response and will contact you again as soon as possible once a response is received.

thanks

Elaine Mills
Principal Regeneration Officer
South Manchester Regeneration Team

Older News:

SLUG members have formalised and applied for temporary permission to continue the work on the garden following a positive meeting with staff at Manchester City Council.

In March there will be various consultation meetings held by South Manchester Regeneration Team discussing the future of Levenshulme and the Local Development Plan. We need to keep the Garden at Chapel Street Community Space on the agenda. Please remember to write it down on your feedback form along with your other ideas and thought for Levenshulme.

Letter from the Council 08/10/2008

To the friends of Levenshulme group, I have been given your email details by South area Regeneration. I believe you are interested in obtaining a licence or a lease for the above land from the City Council. We will of course consider your requests but having looked at your website I notice that you are due to start work today.

I would ask you not to start work on the site before the City council has considered your requests or considered the long term use of the land. Your actions could prejudice any future partnership with the City Council and should you carry any work out on the site you will do so at your risk and without the City Council's permission.

Regards

Dave

Dave Chadwick
Gypsy/ Traveller Liaison Officer/ Land Management
Property Strategy Group
Corporate Property
Corporate Services
Manchester City Council

Want to help?

Look out for our next working day. (suspended at the moment while we await the City Council's formal permission)

Got any plants in your garden that you don't want or could do with thinning out?
Take cuttings, divide plants and collect seeds. We need cuttings of honeysuckle/clematus/virgnia creeper/roses and other climbers to start growing up the wire fence.

The path has starting to reveal areas that could be developed with smaller projects -example - an herb garden - can you get a committed group together for a smaller within the site?
Do you have any experience fundraising?
Get in touch.