Local Volunteers Set To Create A New Community Garden For Hailsham

The project, the largest Hailsham In Bloom project carried out to date, has focused on transforming a piece of land off Gleneagles Drive from an unused grassy area into a sustainable combined orchard and sensory garden for all members of the public to enjoy.

The volunteer work crew, which includes local residents, school pupils, representatives from the East Sussex Association for the Blind (ESAB), Square Youth Café, Hailsham Foyer (YMCA), Firstfields Resource Centre and such voluntary organisations as the Hailsham Horticultural Society, Hailsham Lions Club and Environment Hailsham, will arrive early in the morning to undertake the planting of flowers, shrubs and various garden components, with the final touches being added just before sunset.

The idea for the new sensory garden sprung from a Hailsham In Bloom Committee meeting held in the autumn of last year, and advice and recommendations for the successful completion of the project have been provided by a number of national charities dedicated to enabling positive change in the lives of blind, partially sighted, deaf and disabled people, including Thrive, the Sensory Trust, the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID).

The Hailsham Lions Club has assisted the Hailsham In Bloom team with the funding required for the purchase of plants, accessories and other garden components.

Hart Reade Solicitors has paid for the 30 fruit trees that will form the orchard surrounding the sensory garden itself, as part of their 100th Anniversary celebrations and donations to the local community. Partners and staff will take part in the planting on the day.

Local tradesman Handyman Harris undertook the construction and installation of the raised plant beds within the garden, and J. Martin Rustic Furniture carried out other necessary work at the site.

In tribute to the late Hailsham In Bloom supporter and Environment Hailsham stalwart, the ‘Dennis King Memorial Sensory Garden’ will be officially opened by local BBC weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar, amongst other guests of honour including Dennis King’s wife Marjorie, on Saturday 5th June.

Mrs King said, “Volunteers look forward to rolling up their sleeves to install the various planting and such an event will surely give people an opportunity to discover how rewarding, and how much fun, volunteering can be. I’m sure I will delighted with the results.”

A spokesperson for Hailsham In Bloom said, “This project is a wonderful example of local residents, business and charitable organisations working together to create something positive for the community.”

He added, “Creating this garden has been a fantastic challenge for everyone concerned, but the finished product will be well received by the public and provide lots of enjoyment in years to come.”

For all enquiries relating to this press release, contact:

Terry Hall, Hailsham Town Council

Inglenook

Market Street

Hailsham

East Sussex

BN27 2AE

United Kingdom