Volunteers from a Sheffield Caribbean sports club partnered with Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust to turn neglected land into a garden honouring the Windrush generation.
Des Smith, Chair of the Caribbean Sports Club, came up with the idea in 2023 to transform an overgrown woodland area in Ecclesall.
He said: “The site was uneven and heavily overgrown, littered with dumped waste, household rubbish and discarded appliances.”
After sharing the idea with committee members, enthusiasm quickly spread, and volunteers came forward to help.
Mr Smith said the task ahead proved challenging.
“Volunteers spent weeks clearing debris before work could begin on shaping the garden itself.”
Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust joined the project, helping the team create footpaths, hedges and wildlife areas.
Lucy Graham, community officer from the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, emphasised the importance of celebrating the Windrush generation’s contributions to the United Kingdom.
She said: “It is fantastic that this could be done through nature and the growing love of plants and animals on the site.”
The trust shared community nature advice with the club and has visited the space almost every week.
Ms Graham said features recognising the Windrush generation include the banana trees and a Windrush trail with all the stops made by the HMT Empire Windrush.
Children have also been involved with the project, creating Caribbean fruits for the garden wall.
Ms Graham hopes this project will encourage individuals to connect with nature.
She said: “It could just be a small action, like growing something on your balcony and talking to your neighbours about it, just getting involved in something that you care about in your community to do with nature.”
The garden was officially opened by Councillor Safiya Saeed, Sheffield’s first Black woman Lord Mayor, and later visited by Dr Marie Tidball MP, who planted a magnolia tree in the garden.
The project has since been nominated for several awards, including the Sheffield Lord Mayor’s Award, the Move More Initiative Award and the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The garden continues to grow, with community members helping every week.
“As the garden flourished, so did the sense of connection and belonging it created,” said Mr Smith.
“Today, the Windrush Legacy Garden stands as a place of remembrance, friendship, learning and hope for future generations.”
