Cavendish Gardens and Bloxwich lane is a complex of 10 two and three-storey blocks of walk-up flats, built in the early 1970s by Walsall MBC in addition to 4 bungalows built in 2002 by BCHA. In 1996 the flats were transferred to Beechdale Community Housing Association (BCHA) as part of an LSVT. BCHA was at that time, and remains, the largest tenant-controlled Housing Association in the country; Beechdale residents, who had campaigned for some years to take over the crumbling 1950/70s estate from WMBC, set it up.
Around 1998 two residents living at Cavendish Gardens planted a small tree in the communal area outside their flat block. They added herbaceous borders the next year and began to maintain the grass outside their block. (BCHA employed WMBC Grounds Maintenance DSO to mow the grassed areas of Cavendish Gardens along with the many other areas of grass within Beechdale Estate for which BCHA is responsible.) In time, this small area of delightful communal garden began to draw the attention of other residents in the vicinity, who were welcomed to spend time enjoying the now well-developed garden. In 2000 the efforts of the two original residents were rewarded with first prize in the annual ‘Walsall in Bloom’ Competition (Communal Garden section). This was the first time this particular award had been given and was instigated as a direct result of the efforts made by the two residents. BCHA, as landlord, encouraged the residents’ efforts with small grants for plants and seed purchases, though they provided the vast majority of the resources invested. By 2000 the original communal garden had been extended to the rear of their block and several more residents began taking a positive interest in creating new gardens near to their own flats.
Residents were now beginning to work together to create a truly ‘professional’ quality environment around the flats. However, they were concerned about the unsightly garage court, the openness of the western boundary (and the resultant casual intrusion), and the poor standards of grass maintenance achieved by BCHA’s contractors. BCHA, in conjunction with the residents at Cavendish Gardens, decided to develop the garage court with four specifically designated OAP bungalows and to provide a communal ‘kitchen garden’ and greenhouse (for propagating their own plants) from which produce would be available for local elderly and disabled residents. At the same time, BCHA asked the residents if they would be willing to take over full responsibility for the maintenance of the landscaped areas throughout Cavendish Gardens from our contractors. The residents were in the process of establishing a Gardening Co-operative at this stage and in January 2002 decided to take on the challenge of responsibility for all aspects of environmental maintenance. BCHA gave their contractors notice from March 2002 and the Co-operative took over from 1 April 2002. BCHA provided equipment to permit the Co-operative to maintain the whole area, including a sit-on lawn tractor, mowers, tools and secure storage. The Garden Co-operative meets in a converted ‘drop in’ flat in the complex where residents plan future garden developments, discuss operational issues, receive horticultural advice and training and hold social gatherings.
The Garden Co-operative is an entirely voluntary operation; BCHA does not pay the Co-operative to carry out the work of creating and maintaining the landscape environment of Cavendish Gardens but it does pay the expenses that arise in operating equipment – though it must be stressed that most of the new planting and garden furniture has been provided by the residents themselves.
Cavendish Gardens residents have created a variety of stunning gardens throughout the complex, which have transformed the physical and social atmosphere of these once ‘difficult to let’ flats.
