Projects
at Eden Nature Garden
Circular Bench Replacement
Sadly, our much loved green oak, circular bench fell into disrepair. We patched it up over the years but it became time to replace it. The new bench, made of English coppiced chestnut, was constructed by artisan Olly Moses. It was installed on site by Olly and his team in March 2025. Eden volunteers came out to help with the removal of the old bench and installation of the new. Every care was taken to ensure the stag beetles and their larvae, and the exhausted frogs resting in the rotted oak, were unharmed in the process.
The new bench will continue the legacy of the old bench as the centrepiece of our gatherings, outdoor school classes and volunteer coffee breaks for many years to come.
Composting Bins for
St Paul's Church
In June 2024, as part of our ongoing support for
St Paul’s Eco Church, we commissioned a local carpenter to build new compost bins out of recycled, non treated pallets. They are located against the wall that separates the churchyard from the vicarage. Composting is an amazingly efficient way to support biodiversity and nourish plants. Locals are welcome add their vegetable peelings to the open bin (no meat, dairy or thorny matter please), and to help themselves to the compost already created.
New pond walkway with plants growing through
New walkway around the pond
New pond walkway
New pond walkway with plants growing through
Pond restoration Phase II
In January 2023, we began the second phase of the pond restoration. This involves laying down a grill style walkway, that planting can grow through, where the old decking used to be and more planting around the apiary area. Details about Phase I of the restoration are found below.
Educational signage
We raised £2,200 for signs to welcome visitors and school children and direct them to look out for certain aspects of the garden’s flora and fauna. The first sign was erected in September 2022. We are currently working on the next sign focused on the pond and its wildlife.
First educational sign detailing some of the flora and fauna found and our biodiversity plan.
First sign is erected mid garden by Benny and Julian.
First educational sign detailing some of the flora and fauna found and our biodiversity plan.
A trench was dug to bury the hose carrying water from the roof along the churchyard.
The trench continues underneath Matrimony Place and into Eden Nature Garden.
Full tank!
A trench was dug to bury the hose carrying water from the roof along the churchyard.
Sustainable water capture
In 2022 we raised £3,375 to install a system to collect rainwater from the church roof, store it in water butts at the bottom of the garden enabling us to keep the pond topped up without relying on tap water. The project has been so successful and provided us with more than enough water to also easily irrigate the flowerbeds.
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You can hover over the pictures on the left to read about the installation process.
Pond restoration Phase I
The pond is vital for biodiversity and is at the heart of the garden. Many species including Common Frogs and insects like bees live in and drink from the water. However, it became leaky causing it to dry out at several points in the year.
After launching a GoFundMe campaign and receiving separate generous donations, we had the £5,500 needed to refurbish the pond and the surrounding area. In November 2021, a group of volunteers got together and the pond was drained and relined.
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Now the pond is healthy and survived the harsh 2022 summer.
Pond is emptied, taking care to protect the life inside it
Liner is secured in place with sand and stone
Pond is emptied, taking care to protect the life inside it
Reclaiming the Quadrant
This area is (almost) left entirely to its own devices.
A small section is tended to occasionally and plants added, cuttings taken, and seed thrown around.
Lots have been planted but beyond watering newly planted plants, it is left very feral.
Huge amounts of Green Alkanet and Cow Parsley but also quite a bit of Pulmonaria, Hellebores, Epimedium, Campion, nettles, hops, Liriope, Sedge, false fox Sedge, Ransoms, lots of native hedging (Blackthorn, Hawkthorn, self-seeded Holly) and a few random, donated shrubs (Tree Peony, Camellia). Roughly 10 Roses rescued from other gardens (people binning them) and planted around the headstones.
Also, you may spot a horizontal, ancient Black Poplar that sadly came down in winter 2020. Fortunately, we agreed that it remain in situ as dead architecture and to rot down over the next decades for the benefit of wildlife.
Long Grass Meadow
In 2020 we established a long grass meadow on the lower lawn with a path marked out through the middle for people to be able to walk through the meadow area.
The lower lawn has had more and more 'wildflowers' and 'weeds' growing through it each year as we have plugged some small plants into it (knapweeds, ox-eye daisies, wild carrot etc) and more and more plants have started to colonise naturally through disturbance, natural organic gardening, and (wind blown) seed dispersal (thistle, teasels, common daisy, corn cockle, ragwort). All of this will add to the biodiversity of the garden and will help to increase carbon drawdown, on a relatively small scale but we feel we are making a difference.
Finally, it will also look interesting and will hopefully help people change their opinions further about obsessive 'weeding-out' and constantly mowing lawns.
