TREES have been planted outside a popular Malvern venue to recognise a hard-working resident who helped keep the site from demolition.
A total of ten trees were put down outside The Cube for Ginny Lee after she lobbied Worcestershire County Council to save the site in 2011, when plans were revealed by the authority planned to replace he Albert Road North building with houses.
Ginny, who has lived in Malvern for ten years, started working at the venue when it was a youth centre and celebrated her birthday on Tuesday (March 24) by having the trees planted in her honour.
“When I was working here I found out the county council was going to demolish the building and sell it off for houses,” she told The Observer.
“I didn’t think that was right because it had been so important to the young people of Malvern and also the community accepted it was very important to have such a facility for young people.
“I started talking to people and asked them what they thought and no-one wanted this to happen so a group of us got together and we went out into the community and campaigned against it.”
A petition against the plans received more than 2,000 signatures and the site was saved and subsequently became The Cube in 2012.
A plum tree, two pear trees, five eating apple trees and two cooking apple trees were planted out the front, while a plaque has also been ordered to mark Ginny’s work.
“Success of the Malvern Cube is down to the community of Malvern which stood up and spoke out to help save the centre from being demolished by the county council,” she added.
“The centre is really run with the strength of the workers and volunteers who give their time and effort into making it what it is.”
