Back streets are transformed by beautiful blooms (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Back streets are transformed by beautiful blooms

8:59am Monday 13th February 2012 in Gardening By Hannah Stephenson

Urban alleyways in this country have often been seen as threatening places – dark, lined with brick walls or fences, with no colour and plenty of possibilities for crime.

Yet in certain areas, green-fingered residents have made their alleyways a sight to behold, filled with plants which create a riot of colour and a heart-warming atmosphere, as far away from graffiti-land as you can get.

The RHS is now calling on communities to transform unsightly, neglected alleyways into green havens, championing the findings of a recent RHS report that shows the significant impact this sort of revival has on communities.

A survey of 231 gardening groups found neglected areas were often problematic because of crime and fear of crime. Disused alleyways were a particular concern because they’re a perfect access route for burglars.

Many councils run schemes to gate off problem alleyways, and the impact this has had on crime has been significant in cities like Cardiff, Bristol and Manchester.

According to the RHS report, in one Manchester street, 50 properties backed on to a four-way passage and were prone to burglary. It was gated off and residents planted it up, turning what was once a crime-ridden grot-spot into a flourishing community haven where residents hold events and children play.

“A lot of groups that have renovated disused spaces like alleyways which have been prone to vandalism and anti-social behaviour have reported that vandals sometimes continue, but this is extremely short-lived,” says Stephanie Eynon, RHS community horticulture manager.

“If they steal planters, do graffiti or whatever, they soon notice that the planters are put back and the graffiti is removed – not by the council, but by residents. These once-disused areas become looked-after, used, lived-in and part of the community, and vandals are put off by the fact there is a strong community presence.

“Groups report that vandals don’t return. Whether it’s through fear of being watched, the fact that there are people physically now in these areas is off-putting to them.”

The RHS It’s Your Neighbour-hood campaign, part of Britain in Bloom, is offering advice on planting-up neglected spaces such as alleyways and also providing information on funding. There are already more than 1,000 registered IYN groups. To set up a new group or join an existing one, go to rhs.org.uk/communities.