THE PROJECT to transform one of the sunken gardens on Loch Promenade into a leisure space with a ‘recycle, reuse’ theme is taking shape with the start of on-site civil works by Douglas Borough Council.
Disabled access has already been improved with the installation of a ramp at the northern end in 2010 which, for the first time, allows wheelchair users to traverse the whole length of the garden. In addition, to further aid wheelchair users, a new smooth pathway is being created with paving manufactured from recycled bottles by Corletts of St John’s.
The design of the space draws heavily on its green credentials with decorations in the garden being made out of mosaic, also created from recycled glass, and the product of eco-art classes led by community arts specialist Debra Tracey of The Creative Space Studio. The garden will be completed with the installation of low-voltage feature lighting installed by the Council’s electrical services section.
The Garey Glass (‘Green Garden’) project is one of a number of Marks & Spencer Greener Living Spaces being delivered across the UK by national charity Groundwork, an organisation working with partners to raise environmental awareness and promote greener lifestyle choices through community involvement.
Project partners Douglas Borough Council and Douglas Development Partnership are co-funding the scheme with Marks & Spencer. The M&S funding is generated through profits from its 5p per carrier bag charging initiative launched in May 2008 aimed at reducing carrier bag use by a third by 2012.
