Barracks Lane Community Garden

Summary:
Barracks Lane Community Garden, situated in the heart of Oxford, is a beautiful green space and eco building. Managed by dedicated local volunteers, the garden not only serves as a safe and serene escape from urban life, but also stands as a testament to sustainable living with its low carbon and green credentials.

However, the garden's popular decking area had fallen into a perilous state, necessitating immediate yet costly repairs, which would pose a significant challenge to the community garden’s limited budget.

Challenge:
Recognising the urgent need for repairs at Barracks Lane Community Garden, and the financial constraints they faced, the garden's management sought external support to address the issues without compromising their operational sustainability.

The unsafe decking posed a risk to visitors, potentially leading to accidents and injuries. However, repairing the decking was a costly endeavor that threatened to deplete the garden’s financial resources, potentially impacting other community activities and maintenance efforts.

Solution:
ODS collaborated with its supplier, Huws Gray, to complete the restoration project. Huws Gray provided the necessary, high-quality resources and the ODS team undertook the decking removal and repairs. Additionally, they painted the surrounding concrete path to enhance the overall aesthetics of the garden.

Barracks Lane Community Garden was carefully restored back into a safe and welcoming hub through ODS’s partnership with Huws Gray. By revitalising this important space, ODS has helped the charity to save vital funds, and it has maintained and enhanced the space for future generations to enjoy.  

Feedback:
"It looks amazing and has made the entrance to the cabin and compost toilet more accessible.

Without this help, the garden would have had to raise funds to get this work done. We are looking forward to working with ODS and Huws Gray again in the garden to renovate the outdoor kitchen. Thank you to all involved."
Jenny Creese, Chair of Trustees