Harwich Town’s community garden opened on the 27th of September.
There was an official grand opening event, which was attended by the community, schoolchildren, local councillors, Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (ESSCRP), and Greater Anglia representatives.
Numerous people from the local community had been involved in the planting of the garden ahead of its opening.
Les Nicholls of NEST (North Essex Support Group), a local charity, was present to cut the opening ribbon.
The garden was created as part of a £15,000 project to restore the redundant space next to the station, which was funded by the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (ESSCRP), the Community Rail Network’s Community Rail Development Fund and the Landguard Trust.
It also formed part of Railway 200, and at the opening, Nigel Spencer, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex, cut a Railway 200 cake with a sword.
The Harwich Shanty Crew also performed a sea shanty which had been written for the occasion.
Not only has the location been transformed, it has been made fully accessible for all to enjoy, and it has been installed with planters filled with pollinator-friendly flowers.
There is artwork in the garden, and additional funding from Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund allowed windows to be refreshed and painted, and posters to be put up highlighting the station’s history.
“We were delighted to officially open the garden on the 200th birthday of the modern railway. We are very grateful for the support of Greater Anglia and Community Rail Network to enable the community garden idea to come to life.
“What was a disused patch of wasteland at the beginning of the year has now become a vibrant community space for the whole town to enjoy.”
Jane Stewart, ESSCRP officer
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