Berinsfield Community Garden opens after four year project

Berinsfield Community Garden was inspired by resident Mike Light and designed by Oxfordshire housing association Soha.

The work was carried out by John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance, and is on once abandoned allotment ground.

The opening of Berinsfield Community Garden (Image: Soha)

It features raised flower and vegetable beds while the front side, on Fane Drive, is newly fenced and gated.

The raised beds are designed to be accessible for the less mobile.

Mr Light said: "John O’Conner have sown the lawn with 24 species of wildflowers to bring colour nine months of the year, attracting insects, bees and birds.

A plaque details which flowers can be found in the garden (Image: Soha)

"It won’t be many seasons before hedgehogs will join them and the garden will be a haven for wildlife, too."

The community project, which took more than four years to come to life, was facilitated by Soha, who worked through safety concerns surrounding Thames Water manholes before Mr Light could draft plans.

Children reading the plaque on opening day (Image: Soha)

South Oxfordshire district councillor for Berinsfield, Robin Bennett, said: "Green areas are always welcome, and the accessible ‘living’ space which Soha has brought about here will be so very beneficial to the wellbeing and mental health of the whole community.

"This was an entirely Soha-funded initiative but I’d be pleased to help anyone with similar aspirations to contact the South Oxfordshire District Council’s Berinsfield Garden Village team to see how we can support."