Woodend green gateway
We are delighted to have been awarded £55,500 by Tameside MBC through the Pride in Place Impact Fund to create the Woodend Green Gateway Community Garden. The funding will enable us to transform the currently inaccessible area beside Lock 14W of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and our Grade II listed Weaving Shed into a welcoming community green space, with pathways, planting, wildlife features, seating and information about the site and its surroundings. Work will begin in autumn 2026, with the completed garden opening in spring 2027.
REPAIRING HISTORIC WALLS
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CREATING A COMMUNITY GARDEN
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PLANTING FOR WILDLIFE
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SIT & TALK
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MEET FRIENDS
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ENJOY THE RIVER
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WATCH THE WILDLIFE
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TAKE A BREAK
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GET INVOLVED
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REPAIRING HISTORIC WALLS ✳︎ CREATING A COMMUNITY GARDEN ✳︎ PLANTING FOR WILDLIFE ✳︎ SIT & TALK ✳︎ MEET FRIENDS ✳︎ ENJOY THE RIVER ✳︎ WATCH THE WILDLIFE ✳︎ TAKE A BREAK ✳︎ GET INVOLVED ✳︎
Formal work on the garden starts 1 October 2026 Follow the project here
Formal work on the garden starts on 1 October 2026, when we begin transforming this currently inaccessible area beside Lock 14 and the historic Weaving Shed into a new community green space. Over the following months we will be repairing the stone walls, creating pathways and planting areas, improving biodiversity and introducing wildlife features, seating and information about this very special location. Follow the project here as we share photographs, progress and some of the decisions being made along the way. We will also let you know about opportunities to get involved, contribute ideas and help shape a garden that we hope will be enjoyed and cared for by the community for many years to come.
Week 3.
We are delighted to report we ended week 3 on schedule.
The footings are in for the wall to the Dark Lane boundary. The riverside wall has been made structurally safe and is ready for coping stones next week.
We are building this community garden with care and attention. They will not be visible from the garden, but look at the beautiful heritage stone spouts built into the riverside wall! These hand-crafted outfalls are a brilliant three-in-one feature: they showcase traditional stonemasonry craftsmanship, act as the daylight point for our hidden land drainage, and protect the wall's structure by ensuring water clears the masonry and drops safely straight into the River Tame.
There will also be many beautifully observed features within the garden.
We are looking forward to Week 4.
Notes from Adam Hunt: 23 October 2023
We removed the tree roots, which did not go to plan, but we excavated down to a good strong base, from which we have rebuilt the drystone wall back up, bringing in new stone and re-using what we could of the old stone. We found various pieces of stone in the river. One really interesting piece of barrel topper stone which we were excited to reuse for something so have attached a picture.
I have created a point where the downspouts and drain from the cobbles will now use. This week we have also excavated out the lower half of wall alongside the cobble path and poured a new concrete foundation. Progress is going really good and mid next week we hope to begin coming up from the foundation with some walling. Tuesday is hopefully going to see the top stones being lifted into place on the riverside wall.
Next week we will then meet TBC in the weaving shed to make a schedule for going forward and to go over the design and plans for the position of the gateway the arrangement for the seating in the back wall and also to set some pins in the ground for the pathway.
Thanks,
Adam Hunt
Week 3.
Halfway through week 3 and everything is on track.
The main contractor is well along with the first element, the riverside barrier. Having removed the old roots, we are ensuring this important structural element is not only beautiful but fit for purpose.
One day, in the not too distant future, this will be somewhere to safely sit and enjoy the location. The sound of the River Tame as it rolls past below is a calming rhythm of life and once the area is fully reinforced it will have a beautiful barrier and large traditional flagstones with seating.
One of the many benefits of using local contractors, Adam Hunt Contracting Ltd, is they are invested in making this project work for the community, they are an important part of the team and we thank them for their hard work and attention to detail. They have gone the extra mile and cleared the area of Dark Lane outside the garden too, and we think they have plans to improve the current bin for poo bags!
Many of you have already engaged in conversation with them, they love that, so please do share your feedback.
We are delighted to have several people already signed up to lay a stone in the path when the time comes, young and old, this is an activity everyone can join in.
Week 2.
We start week 2 with a real spring in our step…despite it being Autumn.
Suzanne Darke; Hello Boolah, created a beautiful sign to keep the community updated now the works are starting in earnest.
We have approved all the main structural works, which are expected to take about 7 weeks. Timing is crucial because the majority of the budget is going on reinstating the lost stone perimeter walls. As the work is weather-dependent, we prioritised this in the schedule, fingers crossed the weather got the memo.
We have Shelley Wood Studio making a beautiful bird bath, Rachel Wood Pattern Maker Studio is designing the interpretive panels, wayfinding, and some beautiful interactive elements for younger visitors. Jake the Joiner is designing seating ideas for the project. This funding is not only producing a beautiful community space, it is putting employment and money into the local economy. Every penny of the grant will be spent using local tradespeople and artisans.
Full recap at the end of the week.
Week 1.
The site is officially cleared, and we can now see the full plot for the first time. Today, we met with our main contractor, Adam Hunt Contracting Ltd, to finalise plans for the hard landscaping.
Our biggest task is the Dark Lane perimeter wall, which has fully collapsed with much of the original stone missing. Next week, the team begins taking down what remains, pouring fresh footings, and rebuilding the wall using stone sourced from local reclamation yards.
It may look a little worse before it gets better, but the finished masonry will even include small, hand-cut recesses designed for wrens and other small birds to nest. Fostering local wildlife is central to this garden, and we plan to add many more habitat features throughout the build.
Finally, we would love your help laying the garden path. Alongside our contractors, volunteers of all ages—including young children—will have the chance to set their own stones into the walkway. Imagine visiting in years to come and walking on a stone you placed yourself.
Get in touch if you would like to join the path-laying day, and thank you for following our journey.
