Wirksworth Meadows Community Hub

Wirksworth Town Council [WTC] bought The Meadows in 2019, with financial support from the community, in response to a public appeal to save the site from development. According to an environmental survey carried out in 2021, the site -which is a green haven between two large housing estates and the town centre- was at the time ‘species-poor and dominated by vigorous competitive grass species’. The Meadows Rejuvenation Project sought to enrich the neglected landscape for both local residents and wildlife, including the creation of two acres of wildflower meadow, upgrading and creating paths, installing swales to provide SuDs, providing seating and a mown community space. The major works to the site were completed in May 2025. A volunteer group has been established to maintain The Meadows. Volunteers are crucial in assisting with the maintenance of this site and in particular the wildflower meadow and swales. The nearest WTC building is nearly half a mile away and is not convenient for those volunteers who live nearby the site and wish to access equipment. The need for a storage unit has been identified which will also serve as a community ‘hub’, a meeting point for volunteers and community groups. Half of this unit will be used to store mowing equipment and tools and the exterior will allow the collection of water, via butts, for use on the site. The unit will also provide some shelter for breaks during hot or wet days, be a meeting point for volunteers on The Meadows and a useful base for community events. Currently during volunteer sessions, two council staff drive to the site in order to transport wheelbarrows, tools, water, seats, first aid equipment and PPE amongst other things. Storing equipment onsite would enable the resource to operate more volunteer sessions and allow for self-led sessions.

The site for this volunteer unit is ready and installation of this amenity will be the final piece of the jigsaw to ensure the long-term maintenance of the meadow. The type of unit which has been identified is a reclaimed and converted storage container, painted green to sit within well the environment. The idea of giving a second life to what is essentially a large waste product, fits within the ethos of the overall project, whilst providing a very sturdy, safe structure which will be easily maintained. It is planned to make the container as environmentally sustainable as is possible, with drainpipes connected to water butts and solar panels on the roof to power lights within the unit and also to charge battery operated tools. There would also be a retractable awning which can be used to provide shelter and shade.
Once this amenity is installed, volunteers will be able to carry out maintenance and conservation tasks with ease. They will have a social space; within the large site, a hub will provide the communal location for the, often incidental, socialising and communication.