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Project Description ... This community garden project aims to regenerate and enhance a disused urban green space located in an inner city area of Brighton. This stagnant space houses a Victorian tower, the Edwin Tilbury Tower, which is of local significance (grade II listed) and overlooks the sea. Given the fear of crime prompted by the anti-social behaviour of people with drink and drug dependency problems, there is little reason for local people to step into the garden. The project aims to revive this forgotten space through a Japanese cultural and practical theme into a community garden for the improvement of community activities and provisions and building links with Japanese groups in an attempt to develop local solutions for social and environmental issues. The project particularly aims to bring people together breaking down barriers such as age, abilities, class, incomes, colour, sexual orientations, culture, etc. The project aims to encourage self-empowerment of users on low incomes through active access and participation gaining skills. Childcare and transport would be provided to break down social and economical barriers. Users get hands-on training with growing fruit trees and edible plants organically through partnership with other voluntary and statutory organisations whose allotments are based on the outskirts of Brighton. The project aims to revive the local heritage tower to be used as storage for garden tools; to reinstate boundary features such as a gate and fencing; to repair and restore paths; to refurbish park furniture such as seats and energy efficient lighting for the tower and any other related features such as compost, water-saver facilities, etc. Planting schemes such as organically grown fruit trees and shrubberies, medicinal and essential herbs of Japanese and Oriental origins are introduced in a renewed landscape, which not only enhances existing local heritage features but also develops an innovative problem-solving approach linked with Japan, e.g. recycling, sustainable development, etc. There cross cultural activities will also result in enhancement of local biodiversity and a positive step towards an improved quality of life in an inner city area. Working in partnership would be paramount to achieve the best possible results. [July 13, 1998]
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