Adjacent to Saltaire on its western flank there is a small estate called Hirst Wood, after the area of woodland of the same name about a quarter mile along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. It is fair to say that compared to the surrounding areas it has for years been a little pocket of relative deprivation, hidden and largely forgotten. (At one time my church used to run a youth club on the estate, which I like to think bore useful fruit.)
In 2000 a group was formed: the Hirst Wood Regeneration Group, dedicated to improving facilities in the area and 'restoring a sense of pride' in the community. They have been very active and pretty successful in lobbying the local council and in fund-raising. The estate now has a very nice children's playground and sports field for local youngsters. A more recent project involved 'The Triangle' - a small area adjacent to the lock on the canal at Hirst Wood, which was originally just an unattractive piece of bare earth. It has now been landscaped, turfed and planted and some seats added. It still looks quite 'new' but will soon mature to provide a pleasant area to sit and watch the activity around the lock and swing bridge. Well done and thank you to HWRG!
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