GREEN-FINGERED members of a popular town community group are enjoying the great outdoors after the opening of their community garden by Mayor of Evesham Coun Mark Goodge.
The Vale’s first citizen was on hand to cut the ribbon at Wallace House Community Centre for the blooming great launch of the new venue for local groups and individuals.
As part of Evesham in Bloom the staff at Wallace House decided to create a garden space that could be used by anyone who wanted to reconnect with the outdoors.
Centre manager Fiona Bolton felt the project could be of real benefit and develop an environment which will provide opportunities to combat social isolation and provide an outside space where people can get together, volunteer time or skills or just relax in the sunshine and watch the wildlife.
Work began to clear the site and Wallace House staff and volunteers gave up their weekends and evenings to work on the garden. Young people from their youth club and YouTurn Centre cleared and planted vegetable beds and a wildlife area as a part of their landbase qualifications course.
And following a rallying call to caring businesses to lend a hand and materials, local companies and individuals donated materials including slabs, wood, pallets and planters. Businesses including Complete Spas, Hampton Ferry, Tallis Amos Group and Training the Future donated time, labour and skills to build raised beds, lay slabs, clear rubbish, fill skips, weed, dig and level ground to be grassed, lay paths and create defined areas for planting.
Generous members of the Vale of Evesham Round Table donated gravel to tidy up the entrance and access paths.
Fiona said: “There really are so many people we’d love to thank individually but we’d have to ramble on for pages and pages so Wallace House Youth Club will paint a thank you board that will be displayed in the garden so that it can be added to as the project continues.”
“The official opening was a wonderful event, with lots of community groups, councillors, staff, volunteers, young people and service users all joining together on a lovely sunny day to enjoy tea and cakes in the garden.
“Work is still ongoing though so come and get involved, we’d love to hear from you!”
Call 01386 446580 or e-mail [email protected] for more.
