GREEN-fingered volunteers have been drumming up interest in a community garden in Redditch.
The group are helping restore an overlooked green space in Headless Cross – known affectionately as the Rose Garden – and whilst pruning, weeding and planning to replant it, they’ve also been raising the profile of a local musical hero known throughout the world.
Just a few metres from the garden is the Birchfield Road birthplace of John Bonham, drummer with rock legends Led Zeppelin, who would have been 70 next year.
The garden restoration is part of a council funded project to get interested volunteers to lend a hand in managing open spaces across Redditch.
Known as BROS (Bromsgrove & Redditch Open Spaces) the scheme runs until April and is led by local charity Bromsgrove & Redditch Network.
Community gardener Alistair Waugh said : “There are plenty of pockets of green space in Redditch that can benefit from a makeover. We’re getting local people to make those changes and to benefit from working together, taking pride and being in the fresh air.”
The project has already seen teenagers raking hay on their GCSE results day, involved refugees in planting orchards and supported local group Transition Redditch to start work on wildflower areas at the Abbey Stadium.
Since 2015 the Rose Garden, next to Vintage Trax record shop in Headless Cross, has hosted memorial events for John Bonham, with live music.
Ros Sidaway, from the ‘John Bonham Memorial Fund’ added: “John loved nature, so we hope to dedicate a small plaque to him among the roses. And who knows, maybe local people will start to call this the Bonham Birthplace Garden.”
