To celebrate the year 2000 the Countryside Agency was given £10million of lottery money by the Millennium Commission to create Millennium Greens throughout England. The idea was to develop new open spaces within easy walking distance of people’s homes that could be enjoyed permanently by local communities.
The Local Community
The residents of Old Bakehouse Yard wanted to improve this plot of land that had become derelict. When they heard about Millennium Greens they commissioned a feasibility study which showed that the land could be transformed into a Millennium Green for around £66,000.
The residents and others then registered with the Charity Commission. Thus the Old Bakehouse Millennium Green Trust was born. Its job was to acquire the land, apply for grants, oversee the work and then maintain the Green in the years ahead as an amenity for everyone to enjoy.
The Countryside Agency
The Countryside Agency provided professional guidance for the trustees and helped them to raise sufficient funding for the Green. The Countryside Agency offered £33,000 and the rest was contributed by the sponsors below.
A Wildlife Garden
Millennium Greens come in all shapes and sizes. The Old Bakehouse Millennium Green Trust opted for a wildlife garden to counteract the decline in wildlife habitat in England. They appointed landscape architect Mick Hall to design a planting scheme using native trees, shrubs, plants, flowers and grasses to attract insects, butterflies, bees, birds and small animals like voles, hedgehogs and squirrels. A small solar powered water feature and a mosaic to commemorate the Millennium are also incorporated in the Green.
Official Opening
The Mayor of Castle Morpeth, Cllr Frank Harrington, officially opened the Green on Friday 6th October 2000. Over 100 local people attended the celebration.
The Sponsors
The trustees of the Old Bakehouse Millennium Green are grateful to the following sponsors whose generosity made the creation of this Green possible:-
- Millennium Commission
- Royal Institute of British Architects
- Morpeth Town Council
- British Telecom Countryside for All
- One NorthEast
- Bass
- Northumberland Environmental Partnership
- Castle Morpeth Borough Council
- Garfield Weston Foundation
- Morpeth Flower Club