Tree of hope for garden volunteers

blackmorevaleDecember 28, 20200 Comment0

‘Our tree celebrates the comfort we’ve gained from working together in this difficult year, our joy in growing plants and sharing the beauty of their colours and forms – culminating in our bounteous display.’ (Blandford Museum Garden Group)

The Christmas Tree stands majestic in the walled Victorian garden at the end of Bere’s Yard at Blandford Museum, a beacon of hope and comfort to the volunteers who have transformed this once overgrown derelict scrub into a thriving garden suffused in the Victorian spirit of adventure.

Railings at the garden

With hard work and commitment over the last 12 years, scores of volunteer gardeners have toiled to create a safe and peaceful space both for gardening and for visitors to enjoy. A serene, green idyll away from the hustle and bustle of the town. These volunteers of different ages, different backgrounds and possessing wide-ranging talents have breathed life into a dismal and decaying space and constructed this Victorian garden. These creative volunteers have grown, collected and dried the decorations, which adorn the tree and stands as part of the Blandford Parish Church Christmas Tree Trail 2020. The tree can be seen through the railings when the garden is closed.

This year’s Christmas tree

A decade ago, just two years after its conception, the garden was used as a safe place for small groups from sheltered and vulnerable communities to enjoy gardening. Elaine Lofthouse said: “Volunteers are encouraged to follow their passions, so there is always something of interest for everyone. The aim is to use the space in the spirit of the Victorians’ adventure and experimentation. Each year something new is tried alongside the usual soft fruit, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers. The benefits of contact with nature and sense of community to well-being and mental health are now widely recognised. The Victorian Garden has not been abandoned during the covid-19 controls, work continued in the busy spring period as a safe outdoor exercise space for the gardeners.”

The Garden Group is now working with the Blandford Group Practice Health Champions scheme for gardening referrals.  Elaine said: “The group is self-funded through events, donations and the sale of plants which we have propagated to make jams and chutneys. Traditional marmalade is our best seller; a jar using our recipe won a prize at the 2019 Shaftesbury Marmafest.”

Two of the usual plant sale fundraising events were cancelled this year, the Georgian Fayre in May and Blandford Hidden Gardens in June. Without these plant sales there was a huge surplus of plants, so the Garden Club sold the plants via an honesty box arrangement and raised almost £300, which was donated to the Blandford Food Bank to support the vital work they are doing in our community.

Building a bonfire in 2010

An open day is being held in the walled Victorian garden at Blandford Museum tomorrow (Saturday, December 19) between 10.30am and 3pm. Potted bulbs, jams, chutneys and dried flowers for sale and a garden and cookery book stall. New members are welcome to join the group, which currently works on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10.20am and 12.30pm when the garden will also be open for visitors.
blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk/clubs/garden-club/ Blandford Museum Victorian Garden, Bere’s Yard, Market Place, Blandford DT11 7HQ