PEOPLE are enjoying a free garden makeover – thanks to Shipley College.

It has started its ‘Great Green Giveaway’ as work begins in earnest to make way for the new building and new greenhouse on the Saltaire site.

Horticultural staff and students have been keen to work with residents and organisations to ensure full use is made of anything salvageable for re-use or replanting.

The aim of the giveaway is to recycle and up-cycle as much as possible from the greenhouses and Exhibition Garden as the site begins its transformation. Building will start on a new vocational training centre for high needs students and a new greenhouse complex with teaching space designed for the Horticultural Department.

Alison Coles, head of marketing at the college, and her team were happy to lend a hand as demand for the green gifts proved to be high.

She said: “It has been great to meet local people and visitors during the great green giveaway, who have browsed and collected plants, books and pots. It was a real pleasure ensuring that as much as possible is rehomed or reused from the greenhouses and college garden area. The site is beginning its transformation.”

The college has already given glass from two dilapidated greenhouses, plus plants, pots and seed trays to local groups and individuals.

Many of the plants from the existing site are being transplanted to create an herbaceous border in the Salt Building quadrangle, bedded into the nursery practice unit or planted out in the College allotment garden.

The work is being carried out by staff from Bradford Works, the Horticultural Social Enterprise based at the College and by staff and students on part-time gardening courses.

Catherine Russell, Bradford Works manager: “The garden was much loved by all College staff and the local community. As the plans for redeveloping this site are now under way we want to do all we can to ensure we replant or recycle as much as possible.

"Our horticultural staff are leading by example as they continue to create and maintain beautiful green spaces in and around the College.”

The two large greenhouses which were no longer fit for purpose - one of which was built in 1922 - are being dismantled and the glass removed.

Residents and organisations such as Eccleshill Allotment Society have collected most of the glass for use in their own gardening projects. The college still has one remaining greenhouse which it is looking to sell to a good home. The Hartley greenhouse measures approximately 16ft x 6ft and 7ft at the apex.

Anyone interested in the greenhouse needs to contact Catherine Russell at Shipley College on crussell@shipley.ac.uk as soon as possible - it needs to be removed from the site by this Friday.