Winter tub planting helps to improve community relations

Local youngsters teamed up with older residents to plant winter flower tubs together, to help build bridges between different age groups in the community.

And while the adults got to take away the flower tubs, the youngsters were rewarded with an afternoon of fun, including bmxing, facepainting and arts and crafts.

Lancashire Police, Pendle Council's Neighbourhood Management Team and Parks Service and local youth groups worked together to organise the event.

The idea came about in response to complaints from local residents about anti-social behaviour in the park and around 200 people took part.

Police Community Support Office, Trish Thompson who organised the project with a number of agencies including Prospect Homes, said:

"We wanted to encourage young people to get involved in their community and to show the older residents that they can do something positive.

"We hope that by spending time working on something positive together, the different generations will now understand more about each other.

"The day was a huge success! Hopefully it has helped to quash many of the negative views about young people in the area and help older residents feel safer in their community."

Petra Wilson, from Pendle Council's Neighbourhood Management Team, added:

"Positive work done by young people in the area often goes unnoticed and unrewarded.

"This event has helped to celebrate the work of young people, build bridges between different age groups in the community and ensure everyone can live alongside each other harmoniously."

Paige Blair local young resident said:

"It's a good chance for the community to get to know each other and show there are good kids out there"

Millie Conlan another local resident said:

 "We liked it because there were loads of different activities and a chance to meet new people who we wouldn't normally talk to"