The WILDLIFE GARDEN

This was created from a part of the Memorial Gardens Depot which had become something of an eyesore, with abandoned machinery, bins, rubbish and fly tipping all overgrown with bindweed brambles and weeds. MeGA had suggested in the Heritage Lottery Bid planning stage that some of the area could be reclaimed and developed as a wildlife garden and the remaining two thirds could be tidied up with bays to hold the green waste. This proposal was incorporated into the plans and in late 2022 the hard landscaping was done to create a circular path and wildlife pond.

 

February 2023 saw a working party of volunteers clearing the soil of debris, landscaping the wildflower beds and planting over 1,000 small native plants, including herbs, pollinator friendly and shade loving flowers. In just over a year the results have been stunning! The pond was very basic when the builders left and we were fortunate in being able to host a workshop with an expert funded by Green Meadows to make it more wildlife friendly. It has been a fascinating learning experience for our very enthusiastic group of volunteers.

 

Two trees have been planted in the garden - a rowan tree in memory of Beverly Sand, one of our founder members, and a crab apple tree which stands behind the rustic oak bench, both of which are commemorating our committee member and volunteer gardener, Dan Tickner.