Volunteers are vital to the progress of the garden !	text size: A A A
There is always time to relax and have a chat! For more of the 2009 bar b q click here.

When the volunteers began work on the garden, many areas were inaccessible and in places the walls could not be seen. The box hedging had grown to tree size and the brambles were enormous. Over several years, volunteers have cut down the box hedge and seen it rejuvenated, dug out the brambles, removed dead fruit trees and others that had self-seeded there. Layers of soil have been removed from the paths and the hoggin reached. Nettles, thistles, caper spurge and many other weeds have been cut down and dug up. The traditional layout of the garden can now be seen, with four quadrants separated by paths and bordered in many places by a healthy box hedge.

Despite attempts to find photographic or written evidence of the garden, little has been found. It has therefore been decided to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers which have a link with Cambridgeshire. This will give the garden its own identity and distinguish it from other walled gardens.

The Trust has finally signed a lease to rent the land for 25 years. We have received a grant of almost £25,000 from the Local Heritage Initiative and much of this has been used to provide the following:
- a path from Ramsey Rural Museum to the garden, marked by a hedge, protected with a fence
- a new entrance made in the east wall with a splendid wooden gate made by local craftsmen
- 20 apple arches which are replacements for the arches that were originally in the garden.

It is a really exciting time for those of us working there, as we can now start to move forward with our plans. It is a great opportunity for people to participate in something creative and inspiring and of benefit to the community. Abbey College already has students working in the garden on their own small plots and one of the Trust’s aims is to encourage and educate children in horticultural matters. Moreover, it can be fun working in the garden!

Currently, a small group of volunteers meet at the garden on Saturday mornings, between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm. If you would like to help in the garden, we would be delighted to see you. You can come every Saturday, once a month or once in a blue moon (when we have a particular activity going on.) We’ll be happy to see you, whether you are an experienced gardener or a novice who would like to be part of a community project.

If you are no longer able to do a great deal of physical work, you can help in other ways. Here are some of them!

If you are interested in volunteering at the garden, please get in touch. We would welcome any help you are able to give. Call Diane on 01487 812350