The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A village church is behind a project to see the creation of a wildlife-friendly community garden.
Pinchbeck Community Garden will create an inclusive garden area which will be a safe haven for wildlife and can be used by schools or other groups.
Log piles and feeding stations will form part of the scheme designed to encourage a variety of wildlife to the site.
“The Pinchbeck Baptist Church is committed to gardening organically and the use of pesticides and herbicides is to be avoided on flower beds, wild areas and lawns,” says the management document.
There will also be an area for a Remembrance Garden and fruit and vegetables will also be grown.
The garden will be a ‘peaceful, beautiful place for members of the local community, whether to participate in the gardening, meet with friends and enjoy a picnic or just sit and simply be,” says the document.
The garden will fulfil three criteria and must be wildlife friendly, sensory and accessible to all.
A natural wildflower area will be included, along with raised beds to make planting accessible.
The paths will be suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
“Old tyres found onsite to be renovated and where possible turned into bright, cheerful planters which will engage the interest of children and be accompanied by educational signage,” says the report.
Support has already been given by 13 local businesses who each sponsored a page in a 2023 calendar which raised £900.
Andrew Hill, director of the Pinchbeck Community Land Trust, offered a £500 grant and the Spar Shop, Blakemore Retail, also donated £200.
Dr Abi Hunt, of Lincoln University, is also looking at ways of potentially supporting the project.
The whole scheme started when a volunteer began to dig out the site and clear it. The church has also signed-up to the A Rocah Eco Church Scheme, operated by a Christian charity with the aim of guiding the church to a sustainable future.
An initial meeting in September saw the agreement of the concept and ethos for the project.
Work has been going on behind the scenes and the team is being led by Trevor Cummings, church secretary and Charlotte Kebbell, volunteer project manager. They will be helped a by a band of volunteers.
A skip load of rubbish has been cleared from the site at the back of the church and some old tyres will be painted and used as planters for children to develop their horticultural skills. The skip was donated by Bourne Skip Hire.
Further information can be found on the group’s Facebook page – Pinchbeck Community Garden
