On Saturday and Sunday 26th/27th April 2003 the people of Wisbech North, together with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire took part in a huge Groundforce-style make-over for the Community House garden. Take a look at the amazing make-over photo gallery »  | Skimming the garden |
As if by magic the derelict "garden" was turned into a green area, fully accessible to everyone including toddlers, wheelchair users and older people. Take a look at the finished result » The work started earlier in the week, as the garden had to be skimmed. Foreman Jack Cobb was there to direct the men and their JCB. Skimming the area took a day, after which the team took time to mark out the path. The path was then laid by experts a few days before the main make-over took place.  | Nicki gets to grips with the rotivator! |
On Saturday, few people were up earlier than Catherine Carr and Nicki Ledgard as they arranged delivery of sand, bricks, turf, tools and plants. Soon the garden was filled with keen volunteers, happy to help with the planting, digging and building. Dick Sanders - Head of Horticultural and Floristery at the College of West Anglia was the man in charge and he made sure everyone had a fun job to do. Dick was instrumental in making it happen - big thanks to him for everything! By Saturday evening the garden already looked completely different, with flower beds, archways across the path, half the turf laid... it was hard to believe this was the same garden! By Sunday the transformation was even more amazing with the raised 'herb' bed built and planted, the whole area turfed and the bbq built! Take a look at some pictures from the two days, and see the garden transformation. Make-over photo gallery »  | The garden pre make-over! |
The garden is large - 38 metres by 30 metres and was full of weeds to begin with.  | Jack's design |
Nine-year-old Jack Cobb from Wisbech came up with the original plan for the garden which included a wildlife area, flower beds, lawn and paths. Jack's a keen gardener and builder in his spare time, turning his own garden at home into a building site and flower beds! Dick Sanders - Head of Horticultural and Floristery at the College of West Anglia and students from the College have helped with the design for the garden as part of their coursework. All 12 students created a design for the garden and Nicki Ledgard from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire chose Debbie Rushby's design. Children from Gordon Fendick School and St Augustine's schools in Wisbech are growing vegetable seedlings and sunflowers to plant in the garden. Thank you list » | 
