Milford Community Greenspace July Update

Over the past three years a group of dedicated volunteers have transformed 3 extremely overgrown allotments above the former Holy Trinity Church on Hopping Hill into The Milford Community Greenspace, a wonderful place full of facilities for children to play and learn and for the wider community to use. For more details on the work that has been done, the facilities created and the school groups and others that use it, see our web page here.

Throughout the life of the project regular updates of our progress have been published and this is the latest. Since our last report in April our main efforts have been preparing the “peace garden” near the entrance of The Greenspace and preparing for the East Midlands in Bloom judging on 5th July. We also had a very enjoyable Open Day on the 2nd July.

We have created a “peace garden” from the last undeveloped corner of the site, on the immediate right as you enter the site. This has involved a considerable amount of work; many Monday morning volunteer sessions and a 15 person work party in mid-June. First the site had to be levelled – this involved digging out large amounts of soil. Then the boundaries of the site were defined by installing donated trellis and fences. Donated slabs were then laid and a flight of steps down to the peace garden constructed and a new bamboo planter installed at the front. The pictures below show all the work involved.

Digging out the site…

More digging…

Site levelled and sand added

First slabs being laid

Slabs complete.

New flight of stairs

Bamboo planter being created…

Bamboo planter complete.

We have planted some roses and flowers at the in front of the Peace Garden on Church Steps, and plan to have a large sign for the Greenspace with forthcoming events etc above them. We have been kindly donated some bamboo curtains we will line the inside of the fences with, and plan to plant a rambling rose and passion flowers to climb all over the fences. We would also like to have a bench there for quiet contemplation and maybe a water feature – donations welcome!

Roses and flowers in front of Peace Garden

Last year we attempted a wildflower garden with only partial success, due to endless drought and persistent perennial weeds. Now with judicious weeding and introduction of perennial wildflower plants such as ox-eye daisies and avens it has been beautiful, as the picture from early June below shows. Some of the schoolchildren have reared painted lady butterflies from caterpillars and released these into the wildflower garden.

Wildflower garden in early June

In the last report in April we had created a new wildlife pond. We have since filled it with flag iris, kingcups and tadpoles. As well as being a wildlife haven, it has proved fascinating for the children. We also had children pick the elderflowers growing in the Greenspace to make cordial.

Wildlife pond with flag iris and kingcups

Children taking keen interest in the wildflower pond

Children picking elderflowers to make cordial

We have always been keen to grow fruit and vegetables on the site to educate the children, and this year in addition to our 8 fruit trees planted in previous years we are growing strawberries, potatoes, raspberries, French beans and tomatoes. We have had an excellent crop of strawberries so far.

In March we installed a sedum roof on our new shed (see last report for details) and now it has come into full flower and is quite spectacular – which has come as a pleasant surprise!

Volunteers admiring the new sedum roof of the shed in March

Sedum roof in July

Much work has been done to tidy the site ready for the East Midlands in Bloom (EMIB) judging on 5th July (the Greenspace is on the judging route). The weed matting and chipped bark we have laid over the past year has certainly made a big difference – last year the preparation for EMIB was an absolute nightmare due to the huge volume of weeds – but there has still been plenty to do.

Volunteers hard at work tidying, mid June

Weedy wigwam

Tidy wigwam

An Open Day was organised on The Greenspace on 2nd July 2023. Tea, coffee, cake and elderflower cordial were available for all visitors (free – but donations to Greenspace funds were welcome) and Alan Squires gave a spoon carving display. There was also, of course, a Greenspace for the children to play in! It was a great success, with over 30 visitors and £50 donated to Greenspace funds. The pictures below give a flavour of the day.

Finally, it was good to see these two youngsters making the most of the Peace Garden during the Open Day, although the “Peace” bit does seem to have been lost in translation!

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