Turf turning ceremony in Great Waldingfield

John Steele turns the turf

On Thursday afternoon I went along to the turf turning ceremony at the site of the proposed Great Waldingfield Diamond Jubilee Garden.

The project has been sponsored and supported by the Parish Council.  Some time ago they launched a competition to design a garden on the playing field to commemorate the Queens’ Diamond Jubilee in 2013.  The contest was won by Linda Lutz who lives in the village.

Linda’s garden beds are planned to border a sweeping path which represents the life of the Queen.  Thus at the beginning of the path there will be a structure that represents Tree Tops in Kenya, where, of course Princess Elizabeth was staying when she heard of the death of her father, the King.  We will progress, passing trees, shrubs and plants that remind us of the Queen herself, or people she knew, such as Young Beth,  Mountbatten, Prince Charles, and also places such as Clarence House (a rose I understand).  Other plants such as Phormium, Bottle Brush and Acer will remind visitors of the countries of the Commonwealth.

The path will end at a monument that will be inscribed with the words spoken by the Queen on her Coronation Day:Thoughout my life and with all my heart I will strive to be worthy of your trust’.

Linda explains her plan of the garden with Chris Francis

 It is planned to have benches on which to sit to enjoy the fragrance of the plants, and to watch the bees and butterflies which should be encouraged by the planting.

The afternoon was a little chill and blustery, but  spirits were high and the whole school turned out to watch John Steele, the Chairman of the Parish Council, turn the first turf.  Three silver birch trees, (Silver Queen of course) were planted by some of the youngest and the oldest in the community.

I am very much looking forward to seeing the garden take shape over the coming months.

The Garden Plan