Community garden to enhance local park

A new community wildlife garden is being created at Penleigh Park, with work set to begin this month.

The initiative is a partnership between local residents, Westbury Town Council, Wiltshire Council and Team10, the voluntary community youth group from Westbury Junior School. It has been inspired by suggestions from local residents keen to enhance the park and make it a place for the whole community to enjoy.

Plans include encouraging wildlife and biodiversity through planting and creating habitats, developing a quiet sensory space for people to relax and enjoy nature, creating accessible paths for everyone to use, and commissioning a nature-inspired artwork using public art funds secured by Wiltshire Council.

“This idea came from local people,” said Chris Boyes from Wiltshire Council’s Community Conversations. “We’re working with them and other people in the community to get something that’s really beautiful, that’s there for people in the community to enjoy.”

Susannah Duval, Team10 coordinator, said, “The team are really committed to helping the community, they’ve been doing it for years. Some of my members have been on the team for four years. They get very excited about making a difference in their local parks, planting with the rangers, and just helping out really. They’re very enthusiastic.”

Rita, a Team10 member, added, “We can get to see what’s happening and what we can do to make it better.”

The project will be supported by Wiltshire Council’s Public Art Programme and delivered in partnership with Wain Homes.

There will be opportunities for people of all ages to get involved with planting and creating homes for wildlife.

To find out more, visit the Penleigh Park play area on Thursday 9th April between 2pm and 4pm, or contact info@westburytowncouncil.gov.uk.