A team of volunteers has worked around the clock to create a new ‘breathing place’ for Leominster.
In less than a month, a remarkable make-over involving around 25 volunteers has transformed an area of the town into ‘Tranquil Place’ where local people and visitors will be able to take time out for a stroll through a garden and traditional meadow dotted with 18 newly-planted trees.
Materials and assistance have been donated by local businesses and artist Janice Barratt, who created a much-admired mosaic at nearby Easters Wood, has produced a sculpture to link Tranquil Place in with this other revitalised spot.
The whole idea has been driven by BBC Hereford & Worcester’s ‘Breathing Places’ campaign, though Angela Pendleton, who led Leominster on to victory when the town scooped its first gold award in the Heart of England in Bloom competition two years ago, has been at work to design and plan the new area.
Created from two fields, Tranquil Place provides a link between the town’s Millennium Green, a picnic site near the Priory, and Easters Wood.
It has been a labour of love for Angela, who was the inspiration behind Leominster’s much-photographed and talked about ‘Mr Granger’ – an eye-catching 12ft figure festooned with plants on the town’s Grange Park.
She said: “Tranquil Place is a special site, a garden that’s in harmony with its surroundings.
“Everyone’s efforts have increased the biodiversity of the site and we’ve planted mostly native trees to attract even more wildlife.”
She praises the help and support of all those involved in the project, pointing out that all the necessary materials and hard graft have been provided free of charge.
Local companies have been quick to help out and the project has received donations of items ranging from 30 tons of hardcore to wood, turf and trees.
Some businesses have even lent members of their workforce and there has been enthusiastic input from individuals too.
“I have just been bowled over by everyone’s support – it has been inspirational and hasn’t cost the town anything,” says Angela.
“Next year, people will be able to walk through a traditional meadow planted with wildflowers.”
Volunteers have also created a fernery and a stumpery at the site.
Mandi Harris, BBC Hereford & Worcester’s Breathing Places co-ordinator explains that local companies and individuals have been very generous.
She says that members of Leominster Rotary Club, Marches Housing Association and Steve Fletcher and his team from Green Fingers have been “wonderful”.
Angela also pays tribute to the support of her husband, Tony: “He is my strength and my wings; I wouldn’t have been able to complete this project without him.”
She adds: “This was a four-week make-over and, at the end of the day, we got there!”
An open day was held in Leominster at the weekend, and listeners would have heard more about the town’s latest new attraction with a live radio broadcast on Sunday.
Mrs Sarah Holland, of Croft Street, cut the ribbon to officially open the site because her grandmother’s ashes are buried there under a mulberry tree planted in her honour four years ago.
Mrs Holland said: “It was such a great surprise to be asked by the Mayor to open the site and it was totally unexpected. He just called me over and said he felt I should be the one to cut the ribbon. I was thrilled and would like to thank him for the opportunity.”
“It is such a special place. We always considered my grandmother, Mari Lally, to be like the Queen and now she really has been treated like the Queen.”
A new asset for the town, Tranquil Place will be looked after by Herefordshire Council’s Parks & Gardens department.
