Donated by workers at a local factory after World War One, the wooded memorial grounds are far reaching but were fronted by a neglected garden. The immediate area around the memorial was cleared each November and the grass cut more regularly by the council but overall it was a lesson in neglect.
Before
There’s only one way to approach a project of this size; one bed at a time! Starting with the memorial stone, brambles were removed, a lawn was laid and stones strategically placed. The lower flower beds were weeded, shrubs cut back, a new bench, hanging basket tree, planters and a litter bin installed. Perennials, lavender, herbs, narcissus, bluebells, azaleas, hostas and ferns are just some of the planting that brought life back to this forgotten corner.
A wooden compost bin is now in-situ, and the badly degraded paths relaid. The garden has once again become a place of colour and tranquillity, filled with the smells of flowers and sounds of wildlife that the people of Waterfoot and visitors to the area can use and be proud of.
Maintenance of the huge area that has already been tamed is a priority but then the bramble infested middle bed is next in our sights. To encourage more wildlife into the garden we’ll be installing bat boxes, bee houses, hedgehog homes and bird boxes. With help from the White Horse Project, a mural created by local children will soon be installed in the bus shelter.
More and more people walk through, exercise their dogs, cycle, sit on the benches, and eat their lunch in the grounds. This is extremely gratifying and exactly what we were looking for.