Focus on...

Within Grove

In summer 2005, Land in partnership with Hyndburn Council commissioned artist Kerry Morrison to create a long-term plan to transform a neglected open space at Within Grove in the Huncoat area of Hyndburn.

Working with Huncoat Residents’ Association and Huncoat Youth Project, Kerry began a programme of community consultation, aimed at forming a local steering group, developing a long-term plan, identifying funding and building sustainability.

A door-to-door questionnaire revealed a high level of interest among residents in helping to improve the estate, and this has been demonstrated through the practical involvement of local adults and young people in a series of arts activities investigating topics such as botany, biodiversity, landscape design, horticulture, permaculture, litter pollution, and recycling – all relevant to the estate and its future.

Activities to date have included:

creating a site herbarium with plant specimens from the area;
collecting yellow flag seeds, researching their market value and designing a ‘Within Grove Choice’ seed packet;
clearing litter and seeding wild flowers in the front gardens of four boarded-up houses;
creating panoramic pictures using collages of flowers and plants for use on banners and street signage; and
filming an (un)safe route to school; and
a plant give-away day and picnic for local residents

Work is ongoing and it is hoped that the continuing commitment of local people will encourage the housing association responsible for the estate to move forward with their planned environmental improvement scheme.

Image: Within Grove

Land and Panopticons are projects of the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network (ELEAN), which aims to demonstrate the positive role of the arts and cultural activity in the social, economic and physical regeneration of East Lancashire. (More...)

Land, Mid Pennine Arts, Yorke Street, Burnley BB11 1HD, UK
T: +44 (0)1282 421 986 | F: +44 (0)1282 429 513 | E: helen@midpenninearts.org.uk