Marilyn moved into her bungalow five years ago, the patch outside was far from the lush garden it is today. “It was hard work,” she recalls. The land was mostly rough, dotted with a few ant hills and overgrown patches. But Marilyn saw potential, a place to nurture wildlife and create beauty.
She and her family dug a pond, built a summer house, and fenced off their garden. At first, the council was hesitant and even insisted she take down the structures, but Marilyn’s daughter wrote a letter, and eventually, the council granted a tenancy for the land. Now, many of Marilyn’s neighbours have also claimed their adjacent plots, turning the area into a thriving green oasis.
The garden is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including hedgehogs, dragonflies, frogs, newts, bumblebees, and numerous birds, all flourishing in this shared community space. Marilyn’s passion for roses is evident. She has over eighty rose plants, which she calls her “main addiction.” Her dedication was recognised when Stratford in Bloom awarded her garden “Best Garden” in their ward a couple of years ago, and again this year when she won the same award.
Marilyn’s story shows how individual action can lead to a positive impact on nature and community wellbeing.
Chloe, Green Spaces Improvement Officer adds: “Creating sustainable communities isn’t just about protecting the environment. It’s about nurturing places where people and wildlife can thrive together. Marilyn’s garden is a perfect example of what’s possible when we all take responsibility for the green spaces around us.”
Our vision for greener wilder communities
At Orbit, we’re inspired by stories like Marilyn’s and motivated to take action on a larger scale. As part of our commitment to tackling climate change and enhancing nature, we have partnered with The Wildlife Trusts to launch the ‘30by30’ initiative. This ambitious target aims to ensure that thirty percent of our outdoor estate spaces support nature’s recovery by 2030.
To achieve this, we’re changing how we maintain shared outdoor areas, spending more time caring for trees and hedgerows, introducing more wildlife friendly planting, and reducing excessive grass cutting. Over the past year, we improved communal greenspaces across ten estates, enhancing more than ten thousand square meters of land as part of our 30by30 goals.
We also recognise the vital role green spaces play in mental and physical wellbeing. By improving access to quality outdoor environments, we hope to encourage our customers to explore and connect with the nature right outside their doors.
Marilyn’s garden is a reminder that small actions can bloom into something extraordinary. With community spirit and dedicated care, we can all play a part in restoring nature and creating vibrant welcoming spaces for generations to come.
For more information about how we’re supporting nature and sustainability, visit our Eco Hub.
