..to want to turn terrace back alley into a community garden?

[missbunnyrabbit]

I live in a row of Victorian terraces with another row behind me. In between our yards is a cobbled back alley. At the moment it is full of weeds and grass between the cobbles, bits of rubbish, and a big crate from someone's old building work. We use the alley for our bins, but no vehicles ever go down there.

I have this dream of giving it a tidy and planting things there. Some small trees going down the middle, little flowers or shrubs by the edges. Turn it into a place that will attract birds and insects etc.

I feel like if I wrote to the council, or neighbours, they wouldn't want it to happen and that would shut it all down. Then if I tried anything, they'd know it was me and I'd get into trouble/hated by neighbours.

I can't think of any disadvantages, I don't think it would obstruct anything, though I'd have to remove some cobbles here and there to be able to plant trees and plants. But it would create a nice view out of our back windows and would be a nice passage to walk down [I do see the occasional person walking down it].

So WIBU to, under the cover of darkness, become a secret community gardener and turn this alley into a wildlife haven? Or is it unreasonable to do without neighbours' and councils' permission. I'm happy to do it all myself.

“Alley” sounds dark. Too dark for plants? You certainly can’t plant trees which will grow 20ft tall and be wider than the alley, with canopies that block the light from upper windows and roots that undermine walls. That’s just a ludicrous idea. Pots of shade tolerant plants would be fine. You need to ask the neighbours though, otherwise they’ll just object afterwards and get your plants removed.

No, it should read Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is in the North of Ireland.

@BecksBristol

No, it should read Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is in the North of Ireland.

Yes and it’s called Northern Ireland. Not the north of Ireland.

Do you refer to Scotland as the north of Great Britain?

You might be better off with a hedge than a fence @NoIDontWatchLoveIsland**

Possibly but there are restrictions on the estate where I live. Also maintenance could become an issue as that neighbour doesnt do any and I'd be concerned the hedge could simply grow out of control and I wouldnt be able to reach across to maintain it in height (we are not allowed boundaries between gardens exceeding a certain height).

Lovely idea OP and great way to bring the community together (maybe not trees though 😁)

As someone else said, I'd drop a flyer about doing a litter pick and then see what happens.

We've put a little free library outside our house. We filtered the neighbours, posted in local community groups and it's now super popular with people picking up and dropping books daily. It has really warmed my heart.

These small connections are what makes life meaningful and your idea is also visually appealing too.

Don't dig up the cobbles, they never go back properly. If you must plant in the alley then just use growbags or tubs, and research the plants carefully.

No issue with adding planters, including small trees in planters, because they can be moved if required.

There was an episode of gardeners world recently that covered a street doing this. Worth hunting out on iplayer.

@BecksBristol

No, it should read Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is in the North of Ireland.

Omg.

I came for the alley talk, I'm staying for this.

Ireland is one country. Northern Ireland is a totally separate place which is part of the UK. It is physically connected to the country called Ireland.

So. Do you mean:

• Northern Ireland *the North of Northern Ireland *the North or Ireland (which is still geographically below Northern Ireland)?

So. Do you mean:
* Northern Ireland
*the North of Northern Ireland
*the North or Ireland (which is still geographically below Northern Ireland)?

Ireland is also a geographical term for the land mass west is Wales. She could well be referring to the northern part of the island of Ireland. Which could well include the six counties of Northern Ireland.

the North or Ireland (which is still geographically below Northern Ireland)?

It’s not. The most northernly point on the island of Ireland is part of the Republic of Ireland.

Do you think we might be wandering off topic?

There’s a possibility….

I might start by just doing some climbers and shrubs by the back of mine and maybe sprinkle wildflowers seeds everywhere. Maybe people will copy me!

My brother did similar.

He lives in a block of flats, they share a veranda/corridor. No garden though, and he is a big, big gardener.

Started with pots lining the two sides of the veranda in front of his flat. Then asked immediate neighbours either side if he could fill the space in front of there's, they were happy to agree.

Then a few houses further down started adding pots outside their flat. I don't think they'd realised they could do this before. Then flat owners started approaching my brother to offer their fronts. He now fills the entire corridor (it's like a wide, open air veranda).

Mostly the whole lot is owned and looked after solely by my brother. It's his "garden". So not a community effort. But has been a really lovely way to bond with neighbours. They chat when he's out there tending in front of their flats. Often help, but with no expectations that they should. They ask his advise and frequently buy new plants for him.

○ There is veg and fruit growing
○ There are fruit trees in pots
○ There are large and mature shrubs and some small trees.
○ There are window baskets
○ There are sculptures and art within the planting
○ There is a plastic greenhouse for seedlings
○ There are several herb patches out of kitchen windows
○ There are tons of flowers and colour

He lives the pots around constantly. Flats all get a new "view" every season. Its absolutely wonderful.

But one key thing that makes it work is that this isnt a community project. The fact that he does all the work, and buys all the stuff (unless it's gifted to him) then he is able to take "ownership" of it all.

But by doing it all with the agreement of neighbours, indeed much to their joy and love of it all - he keeps everyone on side but has no-one to argue with. It's all pots do if anyone doesn't like it he can shift them. But everyone - literally everyone, including visitors and just passerbys - all love it. And he loves doing it brcause it gives him a sizable "garden" in a block of flats. So win-win.

Some images of the front of my brothers flats.

Does anyone have strong feelings about whether South Africa could be described as being 'in Southern Africa'...?

It's a nice idea but if people need to do any work on the backs of their houses, then that rear access would be more than useful (for deliveries of pallets of building materials, for example) so best to make plans that wouldn't obstruct it.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland sounds like that boundary is always going to be a tricky one. Our neighbours have ivy too, but on a wall so not so problematic. I cut back once a year and wish their honeysuckle would do better than their ivy!

I think you need to inform neighbours otherwise it will seem like you're trying to take over the land.

I agree with everyone else - no trees or wild flowers.

You need to keep to pots, planters, a bench.

I imagine people would be happy for it to be tidied up.

@DysmalRadius

Does anyone have strong feelings about whether South Africa could be described as being 'in Southern Africa'...?

I'm sure someone will be along soon to vent their outrage

The bin men come down the alley way to take the bins out, if yours is the same, putting stuff out there is going to get in their way.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Start by dropping a note on everyone's doors

"Hi, planning a litter pick/general tidy of the alleyway on X Sunday. Everyone welcome; if anyone has any ideas for making the alley a bit nicer, maybe we can talk about it then too. Be nice to meet you all!"

This is a great idea :)

What a horrible world we live in, where someone is worried about planting trees whereas their neighbours is fine with dumping rubbish.

plant trees, plant flowers and you could buy a few extra bulbs and seed packets and put them up with a sign saying ' please join me '
thats what we are doing next year.
Happy planting and thank you for using your own resources to make the world a better place. We all need to be more like you OP. Please post pics when you are done and give everyone a bit of inspiration to do the same!

It's sounds like the area is a mess. Maybe if you started on your area and then start expanding the area by weeding and sweeping first, I don't see how anyone could complain about that.

I saw something on the TV where a man started tidying the back alley during lockdown and then everyone got involved. It looked lovely in the end.

I'd go with tidying it and pots at this stage. No trees.