Losing the BT Gardens

Heywood in Bloom have looked after the BT garden site for 10 years and this year we had plans to develop it further. Prior to starting we did the right thing and contacted BT who own the site to ensure they were happy with our plans.

Sadly this has had completely the opposite result and their response to us is below

‘Unfortunately, due to the size of its operational estate (with c.5,500 exchanges) BT is unable to consider requests by third parties to carry out activities such as this on its land. This is because it is impracticable for us to monitor the operational, legal, health and safety and insurance aspects of people entering onto BT sites. We hope you understand and wish you well with your community improvement projects’

We are extremely disappointed by this but accept we are ill equipped to do battle with a large company such as BT.

Over the last few days we have removed all of our plants from the site. It was such a shame to do this especially as there were a lot that had started flowering, but a reasonable sum of money had been invested in these plants and without proper care which we can no longer provide they will not survive.

The site will now be left for BT to maintain as they see fit.

Moving forward we will reuse all of the plants although we are unsure where yet. We are actively looking for other opportunities to make local community spaces places for everyone to enjoy. If you know of any where then please get in touch with us.

Despite this not being the start to the new growing season that we wanted we will be continuing with our work at the picture frame, in the town centre and at our allotment. If you would like to be involved then please get in touch.

Heywood in Bloom are onwards and upwards into our 15th anniversary year.