Community Garden officially opens

Last weekend local residents celebrated the official opening of the Bengeo Community Garden on the corner of Duncombe Road and Tower Street in Bengeo.

A water tower used to be situated on this site, which had become overgrown. A small group of local residents and Councillors worked together with East Herts District Council, Hertford Town Council, Mudlarks, and local residents on clearing the area and turning it into a community garden.

Rachel Carter, Mayor of Hertford, congratulated everyone involved for all their efforts and persistence in making the garden happen - this is the first completed community project which originated in residents' discussions about the Bengeo Neighbourhood Plan.

Newly elected MP Josh Dean also said: "I am delighted to be here and join you in celebrating this excellent community project. A huge well done to everyone who was involved. This is my first official public engagement as MP. I very much look forward to engaging with residents and community groups."

The organisers also met with Mudlarks, the local charity supporting adults with learning difficulties, who transformed the garden.

Veronica Fraser, representing the Bengeo Community Garden group said: "Our thanks go to Mudlarks, East Herts Council Bengeo Neighbourhood Plan and many volunteers for making this happen. We hope even more people will join us in helping the garden to thrive."

There are plans to continue with some small improvements of the garden, including having an information board about the history of this area.