SHIRLEY Park is smelling of roses once again thanks to the hard-work of a community group.
The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Shahin Ashraf cut the ribbon and officially opened the garden, which has been revamped thanks to Friends of Shirley Park.
The group secured £20,000 from the local Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund to employ professional landscapers to rejuvenate the area, aided by teams from Veolia and volunteers to give the area a new lease of life.
The new area has been specially designed to be accessible for all with raised beds for wheelchair users and people with mobility issues to garden.
The replanting of the area has been designed with a sensory focus; the new plants have been selected by Friends of Shirley Park for their fragrance and texture, as well as offering value to local biodiversity.
Wendie, Chairperson of Friends of Shirley Park, said: “Our roses were chosen for their names – Storyteller, Warm Welcome and Blessings – although a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
“On behalf of Friends of Shirley Park, I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing life back into our rose garden.
“This refurbishment is, hopefully, the first part of a larger plan to improve and enhance the Shirley Park ‘Wellbeing Corridor’, which stretches from the Childrens’ Play Area to the Rose Garden.”
The opening also marked the official start of Love Parks Week, a week-long celebration, from July 26 to August 4, highlighting the role green spaces play in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities.
The Mayor said: “It’s fantastic to see a serene space like this revitalising the heart of the local community in Shirley.
“Gardens like these are safe, comfortable, peaceful places that can offer an important respite from the everyday stressors of our increasingly fast-paced lives.
“It’s so important to have these green spaces for everyone in the community to enjoy.”
