The Pentagon is the largest and most well-used green space on the Spofforth Park development, a place right in the centre and enjoyed by hundreds of residents every week. From children racing around on scooters and bikes, to families stopping for picnics, to dog walkers and neighbours simply sitting in the sunshine, it’s a space that works hard for the community. Because of that, keeping it looking neat, welcoming and cared for really matters.

Since March, a small group of neighbours living around and close to the Pentagon have been working together to improve and maintain the area. What started as four of us meeting on rainy Wednesday afternoons to weed and prune has quickly grown into a much larger community effort. We now regularly see groups of up to 20 volunteers getting involved including lots of enthusiastic children, which has been wonderful to see.

None of us are professional gardeners, and many of us have very little experience, we’re simply a group of people who care about where we live and want to make the development as attractive as possible for everyone to enjoy. Spofforth Park is a very special place, with its abundance of green spaces, and the Pentagon at its heart is particularly unique. We felt strongly that by working together, we could make a real difference and that the process itself would be rewarding, not just for the wider community, but for us too. Along the way, we’ve built new friendships and strengthened existing ones, which has been just as valuable as the physical transformation of the space.

Our approach has been to work with what’s already here: tidying the space, moving plants where needed, pruning, weeding, and adding wood chips to help retain moisture and reduce maintenance. We’ve also replaced damaged or dead plants, aiming for a more balanced and symmetrical look, and focusing on varieties that can cope with the Pentagon’s exposed and often dry conditions. It’s a challenging space, much larger than any other planted area on the development, so even small changes take a lot of effort, but the impact so far has been hugely positive. Many residents have commented on how much better the space looks.

One of the highlights this year was the delivery of a full truck of wood chip, tipped right into the Pentagon. As the pile arrived, families spotted it from their windows and came out spontaneously to help bringing wheelbarrows, tools, and for the children, toy diggers and tractors. It quickly turned into a shared effort, with people of all ages pitching in, and it created such a lovely, happy memory for everyone involved, especially the children.

Looking ahead, the focus for the rest of the summer is simple: weeding, watering, and helping the new planting to establish. In the autumn, we’re planning to introduce more trees to bring height, structure, and visual interest to the space, as well as creating some shaded areas for people to enjoy in the summer. Alongside this, we’re hoping to organise a community daffodil planting day beneath the new trees. This is something that first took place in 2000 and was hugely popular, residents still talk about it now, so it feels like a natural and meaningful tradition to bring back. It will also help ensure the new planting in the Pentagon ties in beautifully with the established trees and daffodils seen throughout the rest of the development.

The Pentagon belongs to everyone, and it’s been fantastic to see so many people taking pride in it. Whether you’ve already helped out or are just enjoying the space, we hope residents can see the difference and feel part of its ongoing story.

• Lorraine Wheaton 26/4/26