Shiploads (MCA’s First Project; 1983)
The Ship Loads was MCA’s first project, carried out in 1983 in partnership with Derbyshire Dales District Council, with further help from the Community Programme Team (an unemployment relief scheme at the time), the 15th Matlock Scouts and donations of some materials from local companies.
It was a neglected, weed infested deteriorating tarmac space at the end of Dale Road next to the Railway Bridge
MCA designed and organised the transformation to a block paving sitting area with planting beds, seats and a new wall to partly enclose the space. Two seats were relocated and two others added. Explanatory plaques were fixed to the wall with text provided by the Arkwright Society. MCA volunteers did most of the physical work (see photos). We were younger then! A Community Programme team built the wall (this was an unemployment relief scheme at the time). The 15th Matlock Scouts helped with the planting. Donations of some
of the materials came from local companies.
The Finished Project 1983
40 years on it is still looking reasonably good. DDDC have been site managers. The Town Council have added a flower container more recently
