30 September 2024
“It's a testament to the vision and great work done by the team led by Mary. The garden is now a green oasis where children can come and engage in nature,” says Jules, one of the volunteers who came to London to attend the ceremony.
Mary, Monica and Jules were overjoyed by the result rewarding five years of hard work and forward thinking. For Mary, who spearheaded the project and recently retired, it means this chapter of her life closed on a high note. “The pressure is on us now to continue Mary’s legacy,” jokes Jules.
The story starts in 1960 when Chapel-en-le-Firth Methodist Church in the North West England Methodist District bought a quarter of an acre field. The patch of grass remained unused until the local minister asked Mary if she would be interested in creating a garden.
“At first, I said no, because I had other commitments. But then a couple of years later, Church members asked me again and I said yes,” remembers Mary. About 12 regular volunteers come to help, and 10 extra for special events.
The vision was to create a safe space for people to come and meet, work, or just simply sit and enjoy the tranquility. The garden would be a place for growing crops, but also for encouraging wildlife. A £5,000 grant from the High Peak Methodist Circuit and a £4,000 grant from Methodist Insurance in 2019 helped to kick-start the project.
Soon, raised beds were installed for growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, and next came fruit trees, accessible all-weather paths including a communal area which has been used for concerts, fitness exercise and afternoon teas, and a quiet area with scented flowers and benches. Specially designated wild areas were created around the garden and wildflower seeds were sown. The pond was a later addition and has tremendously increased the wildlife.
Extra funding from a local anonymous donation and Foundation Derbyshire allowed the team to install a large greenhouse. “It allowed us to sow seeds more successfully, grow crops which needed protection and it gave us shelter from the rain!” explains Mary. “More recently we installed a solar panel which feeds into a generator and warms the soil beneath the young plants.”
As there is no tap water on site they installed big water tanks to collect rainwater and they are now self-sufficient in water. They make their own compost and do not use any artificial fertilizers or pesticides. The garden is green from every perspective.
As a community garden, one key aim from the start was reaching out to people with additional needs or mental health issues. “We also set up a group for older, isolated people, some of whom we provide transport for, which is a lifeline for some” adds Mary.
With its arches, fences and multicolour plants, Townend Community Garden is open all the time delighting adults and children alike with its many features and beautiful biodiversity.
The 2024 Church Times Green Church Awards are organised jointly with the Church of England’s environment programme, the Methodist Church, The Salvation Army, and Eco Congregation Scotland.