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#ProudTenant

As part of Housing Day 2015, Blackpool resident Mary Hatfield has told us how she and others at Stirling Court transformed their communal garden.

Mary, who has lived at Stirling Court for four years, was one of a number of tenants who helped turn their vision into reality, giving them a community space to be proud of by transforming an otherwise derelict site.

She shared their story as part of annual Housing Day and explained why the Muir scheme been working out so well for her since becoming a resident with the Association.

“The gardens at Stirling Court had been derelict for about three-years," Mary said.

"As residents, we got together and decided we wanted to do something about it."

The residents approached their Muir housing officer, Barbara Stephenson, to see if we could get any funding to buy plants and flowers.

After putting a bid together through the Friends of Muir Group, they were successful in obtaining a grant of £300 towards the project.

“We were outside all summer digging weeds and putting compost down," Mary said.

"It was a good, hard slog, but everyone at Stirling Court is really proud of what we achieved.

“It was absolutely fabulous over the summer. We held monthly BBQs and it was great to come out here and sit and chat with one another – there is a real sense of community here."

The residents then took their transformation one step further by creating raised vegetable beds after sharing the next phase of their vision with Barbara too.

“We thought we would ask Barbara if we could have raised beds in the back so we can grow vegetables," said Mary.

"We all had different ideas about what we wanted to grow, but the idea is that everyone can help themselves and so we can be self-sufficient.

“We have been growing new potatoes, sprouts, cauliflower, cabbages, tomatoes, and we also have an apple tree.

“Our hope for next year is to secure funding so we can plant more flowers.

"We are very proud of our garden and we want it to always look like it is in bloom."

Mary revealed the project helpd bring an enhanced sense of community to the Stirling Court scheme and that the residents have since founded a comittee to ensure the gardens continue to be at their best.

“We are now looking forward to Christmas," she said.

"We and we plan to put up a Christmas tree for everyone to enjoy.

“I have now been a Muir resident for four years and they have always helped me, especially when it comes to repairs.

"It’s ten times better here than what I used to have so I have never regretted coming here.

“I am at the centre of everything. I am ten minutes away from town and I regularly go swimming at the local leisure centre.

"It has been a happy four years here – I love it," Mary added.