Denton garden remembers in great display

THE UK’S fallen soldiers are being remembered with a fabulous display created in a Denton garden.

Sharon McHale, chair of the @BeeHappyM34 project, has turned the grass into a fitting memorial as the country enters its period of reflection.

It is the latest in an increasing array of showpieces that have featured on Portal Grove, Haughton Green after residents in the community made up of the elderly and less able got together to improve the area.

And it comes from talks with those who see it every day after previous installations.

Sharon McHale has turned the grass in Haughton Green into a fitting memorial as the country enters its period of reflection

Sharon said: “The residents loved it and started chatting with people diverting to walk through our space to see the decorations and lawn art!

“So I did the same ready for remembrance, this time I had a little acrylic paint and emphasised the lawn art.

“It took about an hour-and-a-half and if we had more project money, I would have completely coloured the poppy red.”

This latest artwork will help raise money for the BEEHappym34 group, which is also making and Christmas gifts and selling through Facebook, with all proceeds working towards a memorable and warm Christmas for residents.

Sharon’s involvement comes out of Covid-19 lockdowns and the effect they had on her mother’s neighbours and their need for community.

So she and Patricia Clegg – described as her counterpart – decided to make the grove safe, attractive and a place where community would flourish.

They formed a residents’ group and with the help of the projects part of Jigsaw Housing, Jigsaw Neighbourhood planning, Carolyn Alston and ground maintenance they say they are making good progress to achieve their goals.

And what they are doing is going a lot further than Haughton Green.

Sharon added: “The grove is now much safer from motorbikes using it as a rat run and so putting our residents in danger as we applied for and received funding to put our bespoke designed BEEHappy barriers.

“We have made planters and garden plant displays from upcycled pallets and extra large bean tins. Many plants and seeds were donated locally and nationally and we have supporters from Norfolk to Southend to Scotland.

“We basically want to bring wellbeing to our grove and wider community. So therefore we bring celebrations to the grove.

“Patricia and her husband Frank have for so, so long wanted the grove improved but it is an absolute team effort.”

The artwork idea was kicked off by the 75^th anniversary of VE Day, then for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Sharon mowed ‘HRH 70’ into the grass.

And the forthcoming festivities will not go unnoticed as Sharon told The Correspondent: “We have a grotto coming and are hoping for a 25ft Christmas tree to be planted for this year and future years if we can locate a donor!

“And this month, we will hopefully be pulling our application together for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Green Fund round two.

“We will hopefully be working with landscape gardening students for them to come up with a design to completely re-landscape the community and incorporate a warm wellbeing hub.”