The new beauty haven taking shape in Downhill, Sunderland with the help of your brilliant fundraising

Get yourself down to the Downhill Recreational Pond and Community Garden – because it is an ideal spot for walkers and wildlife lovers alike.

And it is set to get even better thanks to a share of the money raised among guests at the Sunderland Echo Business Excellence Awards.

Kevin Hazard, on behalf of the scheme, said: “The intention is to create and bring an inclusive space and environment for all to enjoy and work together to create a wonderful community garden and resource."

The area is already home to lots of birds and other wildlife, but this is only the start.

Kevin said the Downhill Recreational Pond and Community Garden team were working with the community ‘to create two areas for a wonderful community resource’.

Downhill Community Garden can be found at the former primary school in Downhill.

The beginning of a dream

It is ‘the beginning of a garden for all in the Downhill and surrounding areas to enjoy and participate in’.

It was one of three causes to share money raised through a raffle and silent auction at the business awards which raised around £2,500.

All three causes are the chosen charities of Sunderland City Council who were the headline sponsors of the awards.

The other sponsors who backed the awards were the North East BIC, Chilli Mangoes, Marelli, Wilf Husband, Harrison and Brown, Thompson Waste, Gentoo, Sunderland University, The Stack, BGL, Audi, North East Ambition and Sunderland College.

The other two charities to benefit from the money were Hope4All Community Interest Company and Friends of Bunnyhill.

Downhill Recreational Pond, which is at the south west section of Downhill Sports complex, is an area of natural beauty that supports local bird and wildlife and has a resident swan population.

"The local community currently are active in developing the habitat surrounding the park area,” said Kevin.

They also hold monthly litter picks and ‘try to create an environment for all to enjoy and work together to create two areas for a wonderful community resource’.

Watch out for news on the Friends of Bunnyhill coming soon.