Middlegate Community Garden

Young Offenders assisting the artist Andy Tanser, roughing out the stone sofa on site.
 A once derelict site in the Middlegate Estate, between two English Heritage properties - Row 111 and the Old Merchants House - in Great Yarmouth has been developed into a beautiful community heritage garden. As part of the scheme, two artists – Andrew Tanser and Alison Atkins were commissioned by The Seachange Trust and English Heritage in partnership with the Borough Council to develop street furniture to decorate the garden.

The project focused on the regeneration of an urban space through the arts and establishing a real and meaningful relationship with the local community. Local residents were consulted throughout the scheme through the Residents Association and public meetings and the Probationary Service helped soft landscape the garden. Over 220 local residents and families attended the launch in June with fruit trees planted around the garden, herb borders and a central spiral.

The opening of the Street Furniture Commission by the local Mayor, October 2004.
 Rather than simply imposing street furniture and public art into the garden, initial consultation was sought from local residents to the designs and concept of the artwork. The involvement of the Youth Offending Team and local young people with the design and realization of the commission was warmly received by local residents.

Karl Hodgins, Reparation worker says of the work –" This has been an excellent project for the Youth Offending Team. It has enabled young people who have been involved in offending to make a practical and constructive contribution to designing and building the community garden. This gives them the message that they can learn and have fun while also doing something good for the community”

English Heritage and The Seachange Trust are delighted with the final outcomes of the project; not only has the project developed the artists own professional practice, the nature of the work is site specific and sensitive to its unique historical setting but also members of the local community can feel a real sense of ownership and pride in their garden.