Project to build a community garden for Bungay

EMILY DENNIS

07 February 2010

A community garden is to be created in Bungay, with residents encouraged to help design it.

The existing brick weaved courtyard at the town's library will be transformed into a pretty haven for children's workshops and general enjoyment for families.

A project has been initiated by library manager Amanda King, who is working with Sustainable Bungay to make the garden fully functional by the summer.

Suffolk County Council's environmental fund has already helped pay for a water butt, compost bin and wormery, and now library visitors are being given the chance to suggest what they would like to see in the garden.

Ideas need to be placed on the post-it-note sticker board at the library in Wharton Street by February 20 when the working party begin to put plans into practice.

Mrs King said: “Sustainable Bungay send out a newsletter once a month and I noticed one of their ideas was to create a community space. I thought 'I've got the space' and keeping it maintained when you're running a library is quite hard work. It just struck me as the ideal opportunity.”

The working party is made up of members of Sustainable Bungay, the library team and other individuals, including a garden designer, who will use their skills to make the best of the small suntrap.

Bungay Town Council has already donated £100 to the cause, but it is hoped that donations and help in kind from local businesses will aid the project.

Raised flower beds, easy public access and features for children are all on the wish-list, as are an insect box and bird bath.

Once the garden is complete a voluntary rota will be set up to help maintain it.