Green fingered volunteers wanted to join the team at a sustainably focused community garden in the Cathedral Close in Salisbury.
A new community garden has been created in a quiet corner of Arundells, a historic house which was the home of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.
The garden, which is part of a National Lottery Heritage funded community programme, brings back to life the former walled kitchen garden, an overgrown space that once saw flourishing vegetable patches and fruit bushes.
A team of military veterans from Alabaré’s ‘Boots on the Ground’ project, led by Rebecca Twigg of Kingdom of Sticks, have worked tirelessly to create a haven for nature and wildlife, complete with raised beds, a greenhouse, bespoke forged benches, and a pond.
It complements the formal grounds at Arundells and is a tranquil, sheltered space to enjoy nature and gardening.
Thanks to further funding, the gardening project is expanding. “We are keen to hear from anyone who has a gardening and wildlife interest and who can become one of our new volunteers from March 2023,” said Rebecca.
“The garden will not have the usual ‘drop in’ style that some other community gardens have, because we have to limit numbers due to the size and layout of the gated garden site.”
Volunteers will be invited to get involved in a new Wednesday group, set up in partnership with the Activity Alliance’s Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme.
This inclusive group will enable people with a wide range of access needs to garden together. It will open as soon as the works on an accessible pathway and wet weather shelter have been completed. A variety of raised planters were provided by Salisbury’s Men’s Shed last summer, making the gardening activities comfortable for all.
“The ethos of the garden is sustainable, wildlife friendly and very much about slow gardening, mindfulness and being outside in the fresh air,” explained Rebecca.
“So while you do need to have an interest in organic gardens, nature and wildlife, it is also going to be a good place to be for someone who would simply like to find new community connections, and a peaceful place to sit and watch the world go by.”
The garden at the start of the year
Credit: Rebecca Twigg
Arundells is a historic house located within the beautiful Cathedral Close, owned and managed by the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation. The community garden is part of an exciting programme of funded activities which welcome local people to enjoy everything Arundells has to offer.
To find out more about being a volunteer, please contact Rebecca Twigg in the first instance via her website:
kingdomofsticks.com
Hello I have recently moved to Salisbury and wanted to join a like mind group of volunteers in caring for a community garden in my spare time please let me know when your next project is underway