Melton Heritage and Community Garden 2011

What is the Melton Heritage and Community Heritage Garden?

We are planning an exciting and interesting new project taking place at the new Council Office building (Parkside) on Burton Street. A partnership between Melton Borough Council, Melton in Bloom and the Civic Society has been active in planning a community heritage garden in the grounds of the new Council Offices. We are keen to get the whole community involved in creating the garden, and we feel that a whole lot more can be done to achieve this.

The aim of the community heritage garden is to reinstate the “gateway to Melton” which existed some 200 years ago. The site is close to the railway station, the location of the old canal, and also the King’s Road, forming both a past and present gateway to the town. We feel that this site gives a unique opportunity so that all residents, visitors and indeed commuters are aware of Melton’s rich history.

The partnership has already drawn up plans for a fantastic project to use planting, new signage and other special features to demonstrate this heritage. We are using themed planting beds, selecting species which directly link with some of Melton’s historical elements. We will hopefully be having new signage too so that the significance of these plants can be fully explained.

How does this project fit with funding?

This project will NOT be funded through Council funds, but instead funded entirely through EXTERNAL funds such as grants and corporate donations. The partnership are currently working hard to submit successful funding applications to a number of grant-making bodies, and the news on the success of these bids will be mentioned in due course.

Have the public been consulted on the proposal?

Yes, from March 16th to May 3rd, the Melton Heritage Survey 2011 was available online and also in paper form (by request) and was advertised on the front page of the Melton Borough Council website and also on the Leicestershire Villages website.

The feedback from the survey can be seen here

How can I get involved?

If you are part of a community organisation, or a voluntary organisation and would like to be involved in this exciting new project in Melton, then please email grants@melton.gov.uk or phone 01664 502502 and ask for the funding officer for more information.

Equally, if you are a business or other organisation which would be interested in providing either an in kind or a financial contribution to the project, then please do also get in touch as we would like to hear from you and potentially discuss a way to work in partnership.