HYPE Merseyside, a Birkenhead-based social enterprise, is calling for people to support a crowdfunding campaign to create an urban walled garden for the community, which would be launched in time for Birkenhead Park’s 175th anniversary in April.
The courtyard behind the organisation’s office, located in the listed building at the entrance to the park, has mainly been used for storage over the past twelve months, but HYPE Merseyside now wants to transform the space into one that the whole community can enjoy. HYPE has extensive experience in transforming empty spaces into areas that can be used purposefully by the community to deliver events and activities and the disused courtyard is the first of a number of ‘empty spaces’ the organisation plans to bring to life this year.
The organisation needs to raise £3,000 to create a public space that will contain colourful and exotic plants, a water feature and will provide a welcoming habitat for insects, birds and other creatures. There will also be a seating area where visitors can take in the sights, sounds and scents of the garden while enjoying a cup of coffee purchased from HYPE’s office.
All money made from coffee sales will, in turn, be used to maintain the organisation’s larger plot of green space in the park, which is 200 metres from the garden. The walled garden will be used by HYPE Merseyside to run its weekly events and community groups will also be able to use it for meetings and workshops.
Local youngsters will be engaged in the process of designing and installing the garden and HYPE’s volunteer youth gardening group would be responsible for its maintenance after completion.
There will be a number of incentives to donate, including a complimentary mug of HYPE’s finest coffee in a take-home 'Urban Walled Garden' coffee mug if you donate £20, your family name engraved on an 'Urban Walled Garden' legends board if you donate £100 and the opportunity to become the main sponsor of the ‘Urban Walled Garden and Coffee Shop' if you donate £1,000.