Planting to brighten up Front Street

As work to improve Front Street continues to progress, green-fingered volunteers have been planting flowers and trees to brighten up the area.

The Greater Acomb Community Forum has branched out, lending their hands and expertise to sow the seeds for a brighter future. The council has worked with the community forum to select the trees, plants and flowers that will be seen in the area for years to come. The community forum has had several volunteers planting over three days.

Throughout our engagement work, the heritage of Acomb was highlighted by many. The word Acomb means “at the oaks”, so planting new oak trees on Front Street was the natural choice to acknowledge the heritage of the area.

In total, two trees, over 100 plants and 600 bulbs were bought using UK Shared Prosperity Funding from the Front Street project. These are being planted by volunteers and the council’s Regeneration Team, and will include dwarf oak trees, snowbells, daisies, thyme and many more.

Volunteers from the forum will water, prune and look after the plants in the long term, which will be supported by the council secondary shopping area fund. The community forum are keen for any residents or local gardeners to get involved via acombforum@gmail.com. 

Cllr Katie Lomas, Executive Member with responsibility for Finance and Major Projects, said:

“It’s been amazing to see how Front Street is changing. With a significant number of bollards removed, resurfacing works and seating installed you can already start to see a huge difference.

“We’ve listened to the community and continue to do so. The flowers and trees being planted now are an example of that. We’ve worked closely with the Greater Acomb Community Forum to identify which trees and flowers they would like to have on Front Street and I can’t wait to see them in the spring and summer next year.

“We are hugely grateful to the forum and their volunteers who have been planting over the past few days for their support as we work to improve Front Street.”

Councillor Jenny Kent, Executive Member for the Environment, said:

“It was great to join the volunteers and to thank them for the work they are doing to spruce up Front Street.

“Throughout our discussions with them and all the engagement work we’ve done in the area, the pride and passion for Acomb has shone through. The flowers and trees that are being planted now will help brighten the area for years and years to come and support our aim to make York a City where people and nature thrive together.”

Luke Walker, Chairperson of Greater Acomb Community Forum, said:

“It’s great to see Acomb Front Street blooming with the newly planted containers, making the place feel more welcoming to residents and visitors as well as improving the environment in the area, thanks to volunteers giving their time and making a big impact on Front Street.”

This is the latest step in efforts to transform Front Street with £570,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding going into the area. Since work has started a lot has changed with two new welcome gateways, the toilets have been upgraded, new accessible parking, market activity and a new community noticeboard.

For the latest updates on the project go to: www.york.gov.uk/AcombFrontStreet