Westham homeowner puts £250 community grant to good use with garden makeover

A Westham resident has transformed his front garden after being awarded a £250 grant from Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, helping his create a greener, more wildlife-friendly outdoor space.

Residents at Barratt Homes’ Hawthorn Grove and David Wilson Homes’ Brookwood Meadows developments in Westham, East Sussex, were invited to submit their gardening ideas as part of the Friends of Hawthorn Grove & Brookwood Meadows scheme, with one resident selected each quarter to receive £250 towards bringing their plans to life.

The scheme was introduced to encourage residents to make the most of their outdoor spaces, while helping to build community spirit and create greener, more welcoming neighbourhoods.

Jake, who lives at Hawthorn Grove, was selected as the latest grant winner after putting forward plans to give his front garden a makeover. In his application, Jake explained that he wanted to create a more interesting and welcoming space, with stones, lighting and plants to brighten the garden.

Together with his partner, Jake has since used the £250 grant to bring his ideas to life, creating a front garden that is both easier to maintain and more beneficial to local wildlife.

Jake said: “The grant from Friends of Hawthorn Grove & Brookwood Meadows helped us to create a front garden that is more interesting to look at, as well as being good for wildlife and easy to maintain. The £250 was such a bonus and gave us a real incentive to try our hands at creating a beautiful garden. We’re really pleased with the final result.”

Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson Kent, commented: “Both Brookwood Meadows and Hawthorn Grove residents have such a passion for gardening so we wanted to introduce a grant to give residents an extra helping hand when it comes to making the most of their outdoor spaces.

“Moving into a new home is about more than the four walls around you, and gardens can play such an important role in creating a sense of home and community. By encouraging residents to invest in their gardens, we hope the scheme will help create greener spaces, support local wildlife and give people another way to put their own stamp on their new surroundings.”

Phil Hurring, Marketing Manager at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties, said: “It’s fantastic to see Jake’s idea come to life and to see how much of a difference £250 can make to an outdoor space.

“We wanted the garden grant to be a simple way of encouraging residents to get creative with their gardens, whether that means adding more plants, creating a space that’s better for wildlife or simply making somewhere they can enjoy spending time. It’s also a great way to encourage a sense of pride as the community continues to grow at Hawthorn Grove and Brookwood Meadows.”