Neighbours muck in to transform overgrown alley

An overgrown alleyway on Merseyside has been transformed from a “mess” into an “amazing community space” in just five weeks.

Local resident Liz Voce-Jules said she had had enough of the overgrown alleyway at the back of her home in Waterloo, Sefton and decided to do something about it.

Armed with bin bags and a hedge trimmer she set about cutting back thick brambles and weeds and clearing items which had been fly-tipped.

She put flyers through her neighbours’ doors asking them to join in and within weeks the space was “unrecognisable”, Ms Voce-Jules said.

“I had such an absolutely fantastic response,” Ms Voce-Jules said.

“People want to take pride in where they live and want to make it a better place.

“The by-product of that is the way the neighbours have come together.

“We’ve got planters, we’ve got chairs and tables, we’ve got beautiful signs, it has become such a fantastic community space.”

Ms Voce-Jules, who has lived in her home for six years, said she had gone from knowing only two local households to now knowing 17, and the street also now had an online group chat with over 40 members.

“We’ve already had two social events,” she said.

“We were all able to go out sit in our garden chairs little glass of something in your hand and just enjoy the alleyway.

“It’s twinkling now with all of the fantastic solar lights.”

She encouraged anyone thinking of tidying up an overgrown alley at the back of their homes to “give it a go”.

“If you’ve got an alleyway behind you go out try to get other people involved to help tidy up,” she said.

“It has absolutely just it’s overwhelmed me, all the different people who have come out and have just made it such a special place.

“It’s hard work but it is brilliant. It’s just a lovely community hub now.”