Rochdale community garden gets solar power and lighting thanks to E.ON

Ajnabi Community Garden gets solar power and lighting thanks to E.ONs Energising Communities Fund

Visitors to Ajnabi Community Garden, in Wardleworth are enjoying upgraded facilities thanks to an award of £1,993 from E.ON’s Energising Communities Fund. The grant was given to Ajnabi Community Association, which runs allotments and the garden, which are open to all.

E.ON has fully funded Ajnabi Community Association’s solar garden project, intended to provide solar power for lighting along the pathways and around the entrance and seating area. The solar power generated will also work the pond’s filtration system and fountain.

Ajnabi Community Association was set up in 2009 to improve the local environment and convert part of an area previously used as a dumping ground into a shared garden. It exists as a place for everyone to come together as a community and enjoy the health benefits of gardening. 

Abdul Razzaq, Secretary of the Ajnabi Community Association, applied for the funding and managed the installation of the solar panels and lighting. He said: “We were struggling with no power supply to the garden, dependent on the goodwill of our neighbours.

“With the solar panels now in place we can much better manage the use of equipment we need for the garden. The lighting has made for a more comfortable environment and allows us to hold community events later in the day.

“The solar garden project is a practical demonstration to all visitors of how renewable energy and principles of sustainability can be incorporated into its day-to-day running. We’re grateful to E.ON that through its Energising Communities Fund we’ve been able to complete the project.”

Suzanne Roe, E.ON’s Community Relations Manager, said: “This is a well-used community facility which we’re pleased to support. The solar panel and associated lighting should make the garden more usable throughout the year, increasing the potential for more people in the community to benefit too.

“E.ON’s Energising Communities Fund was set up to support charities and community groups with projects of their own design which bring about a reduction in the amount of energy being used, share energy education or result in the production of energy from a renewable source.

“Since 2013, E.ON’s community funds have distributed more than £185,000 to over 100 community groups in England, Scotland and Wales.”

The E.ON Energising Communities Fund is one of the ways E.ON is supporting community groups, schools and charities to become more energy efficient and to save money on their heating bills.