Green-fingered Thetford volunteers to create communal garden for town

A group of green-fingered volunteers from Thetford are embarking on a project to create a communal garden for the town after being leased land by the council.

Breckland Council has leased an area of Butten Island, free of charge, to Sex, Rock and Roll, Weeding - Thetford, a team dedicated to brightening up the town.

The project was suggested by Jane Bishop, who coordinates the group, after they tidied up an area of Butten Island last year.

“It got us thinking, why not turn this area into a large flowering bed?” said Ms Bishop, district council member for Thetford Priory ward.

“The group has been working closely with Breckland on this for some time and I’m delighted that we’ve been granted a three year lease”.

The group will be responsible for a 40ft x 30ft site close to the island’s bridge, sprucing up the area and planting flowers over the next three years.

John Room House, a sheltered housing scheme in Thetford, has been working with the volunteers since January and people using the service are set to be offered volunteering opportunities on the island site.

Thetford Job Centre is planning to signpost people looking for a job in gardening to join the group, and the Thetford and District Dementia Group will also be joining the volunteers.

Ms Bishop said: “Once we have the site up and running, we hope to have a number of groups responsible for the site for a few weeks at a time, on a rota system, so everybody will have the chance to help out and contribute.”

People interested in joining the project should contact Sex, Rock and Roll, Weeding - Thetford on 07853 290381 or visit its Facebook page.