Community forum breathes new life into forgotten park space

An unused, overlooked space in Blackthorn Park, Stifford Clays, has been transformed into a thriving memorial garden.

Stifford Clays Residents Community Forum approached Thurrock Council about the fenced off and forgotten area in the park with ambitious plans to restore it as a memorial garden in time for Remembrance Sunday. The council agreed the forum could take on the land as a community project.

Over a period of four weeks, the forum got to work planting flowers, building a new pathway and purchasing Tommy silhouettes to be installed to honour all those who have lost their lives in war and who continue to serve.

On Sunday 10 November, a Remembrance service was held at the memorial garden with the local Stifford Sea Scouts and the Beaver's group in attendance.

Cllr Val Morris-Cook, Cabinet Member for Community Partnerships, said: "It's wonderful to see Stifford Clays Residents Community Forum take on this forgotten space and nurture it into a fitting memorial garden for residents to come together and pay their respects. This garden now has a clear purpose and is one the community can be proud of.

"Thank you to everyone who gave their time to this great cause."

Dave Barton from Stifford Clays Residents Community Forum said: "From the very beginning, our goal has been to directly engage with local people and uphold the highest ideals of what community means through meaningful actions. We listened to the needs and desires of the community, and together we worked to fund, organise, and build the garden in very a short period of time. This effort created a space that reflects our shared commitment to the future growth of both the community and this forum."

The forum will continue to maintain the memorial garden all year round.