Town's new garden is blooming fabulous

Front row: Baxi employees Mike Baines, Dan Richardson, Leo Billington, Peter West, Peter Mitchinson.
Back row: South Ribble Borough Council Community Works Manager Howerd Booth, Baxis Ashlea Arnold, Baxis Nigel Pickles, and South Ribble Borough Councillor Phil Smith. — Front row: Baxi employees Mike Baines, Dan Richardson, Leo Billington, Peter West, Peter Mitchinson. Back row: South Ribble Borough Council Community Works Manager Howerd Booth, Baxis Ashlea Arnold, Baxis Nigel Pickles, and South Ribble Borough Councillor Phil Smith.

The land in Club Street was originally covered by shrubs but has now been transformed into a mini haven thanks to the joint venture, which marks Baxi’s 150th anniversary.

As well as raised beds filled with flowers, the garden features a community noticeboard showing a timeline of Baxi’s foundation in 1866 and its development.

The boiler manufacturer, which is based on Club Street, has also sourced four large stones, which have been cleaned up and now bear the company name in giant letters.

Baxis longest-serving employee Peter West who has worked for the firm for 44 years.

The stones were discovered in the foundations when Baxi’s headquarters was built and are thought to have belonged to a farmhouse on the same site.

Councillor Phil Smith said: “We’ve been delighted to work with Baxi on this project to help mark the company’s 150th anniversary. The garden looks fabulous and is much more eye-catching and colourful than the previous layout.

“We’re always keen to collaborate with local businesses to improve the area and this transformation shows just what can be achieved.

“It’s an indication of the impact we can make in Bamber Bridge with our £3.35m regeneration project, which will bring major improvements and result in a more inviting place to live and work.”

New Baxi community garden in Club Street, Bamber Bridge

The land was released by South Ribble, who also contributed to the garden design and helped carry out the groundwork. The garden will be maintained by the company.

Peter Mitchinson of Baxi, said he was delighted with the result. He said: “Many people in Bamber Bridge don’t realise that Baxi is still there, in spite of it being one of the biggest employers in the area, so our community team looked at ways they could raise Baxi’s profile locally.

“They thought the land on the corner of Club Street would be a perfect place to make a Baxi garden.”