Community garden project begins at Washington Close, Essex

Moat Foundation has begun work with Maldon District Council and Heybridge and Maldon Climate Action Partnerships (HMCAP) to create a community forest garden outside our retirement living scheme, Washington Close, in Maldon, Essex.

A long-term lease has been offered to HMCAP for the disused piece of Moat-owned land and to set up a community forest garden for customers and local members of the public to enjoy for years to come. The project intends to inspire people of all ages to volunteer their time and remember the importance of their local environment, nature, and the impacts of climate change. Moat Foundation are providing funding to survey the area, set up risk assessments and complete all the legal work. They will also set up volunteer groups and new equipment for the initial clearance.

Mumtaz Samad, Head of Moat Foundation, said: “We’re excited to see the creation of this amazing community forest garden. This is a unique project for us and a great example of a community-led climate action initiative. It’s also our first community-managed environmental sustainability project thanks to the support from our Essex climate action partner, Heybridge and Maldon Climate Action Partnerships.

We hope that customers in our retirement living scheme and the wider community surrounding Washington Close enjoy the benefits of having this special green space as part of their neighbourhood.”

On Saturday 23 March, the first working party, led by HMCAP and Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT), began with volunteers removing brambles, litter, dead branches and trimming overgrown bushes and trees. EWT guided volunteers on the best ways to ensure there was minimum impact to wildlife in the area. Stories were swapped over tea and homemade cakes during the event, with residents talking of how they had spotted foxes, badgers, bats, robins, owls, frogs, newts, slow worms, a sparrow hawk and a kingfisher over the years.

Cllr Richard Siddall, Leader of Maldon District Council, said: “The Community Forest Garden is an exciting way to involve local people in caring for nature and wildlife. I am delighted that the Council has been instrumental in making this initiative a reality with the support of our partners. I look forward to seeing the Community Forest thrive and grow.”

With much more to do, we have already started chatting with customers living at Washington Close to get involved through a volunteer day.