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Introduction A small, sheltered strip of sloping land above the River Bradford in Youlgrave is being developed as a community wildlife garden. It previously belonged to Maggie Ford, who still lives in a cottage above the garden on Bankside, a delectable and out-of-the-way area of the village. However, in 2005 the parcel of land was legally transferred to independent local trustees who manage it on behalf of the whole village. The idea is to develop it into a free and enjoyable resource for local people and visitors alike, so that they can experience and learn abut the local flora and fauna – or simply relax and chill out in an idyllic setting!
Bankside Wildlife Garden supporters take a break during a working party in 2003. How to find the garden The 0.5 acre garden is freely accessible by public footpath off Bankside: as you walk down Bankside, which below the parking bay becomes a walkway only, turn right opposite Greystones Cottage and walk along the surfaced path past several cottages and then down the sloping, unmade path (still a public right of way) for 50m. The garden is below you on the left. The garden has full public liability insurance under The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers’ national scheme.
Maggie Ford (near right) lends vocal support to the efforts of Andrew McCloy (left) to fell a rogue sycamore. About the garden In 2005, the project was awarded a grant from the Sustainable Development Fund (via the Peak District National Park Authority) to renovate the historic Victorian summerhouse that provides the centrepiece of the garden and pay for essential walling and fencing to make the sloping garden safe. Since then, the garden has benefited from a variety of volunteer help: 1st Youlgrave Guides and Brownies, BTCV (midweek Derby group) and Youlgrave’s new Duke of Edinburgh Award group have all helped.
Members of Youlgrave Duke of Edinburgh Award group help to fill the newly dug pond. The work has included:
Some serious weeding in the garden. Future plans Thanks to a grant from Awards for All, the perimeter path (including steps and handrail) has just been finished, a retaining wall built to prevent the sloping ground shifting too much, and the pond surround finished off. We are going to leave one end of the garden as a woodland retreat, while the open patch below the summer house will eventually be the meadow area – it has been smothered by old carpet to control the weeds. A number of young native shrubs and trees, generously donated by the East Derbyshire Woodland Project, will be planted in the garden once we give some more thought to planting plans and timetables. (These include silver birch, hawthorn, crab apple, holly, guelder rose, spindle, rowan and blackthorn.) The pond was only dug in 2006 but already it is full of frog spawn and other aquatic life! The semi-wooded garden already has a number of bird boxes, but we are also considering putting up bat boxes and also introducing measures to attract lacewing, solitary bees and other insects.
Maggie surveys the renovation of the historic summer house. How to get involved Bankside Wildlife Garden is run by a volunteer committee. It welcomes help and support from anyone and anywhere! You can freely visit the garden at any time, but if you would like a guided tour or get involved in any way – either helping in the garden, planning or planting, recording the wildlife, or in any other way – please get in touch with Val Cornish on 01629 636420 or email v.cornish@virgin.net.
Andy Whittaker of BBC Radio Derby visited the garden in the Summer of 2006 to record a piece as part of the national Breathing Places programme. Thank you to the following funders:
…and all the garden’s hard-working, local supporters!
The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers from Derby provided some much-appreciated hard graft in the garden.
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