Despite the grey and murky conditions that followed in Storm Claudia’s wake during November, Cllr Milly and a team of volunteers spent a successful afternoon working at the Children’s Food Forest Garden in Old Witney Road play area.
Milly was joined by her fellow Councillor, Cllr Pete and kind, local residents, big and small. “I am very grateful to all the grown-ups and all the little gardeners who came to help,” she said, “Thank you!”
During the session, the group removed a patch of grass to create additional growing areas. Into these new spaces, “we planted different varieties of raspberries as well as strawberries, for children to enjoy in the summer and autumn,” Milly explained.
“We also planted a range of perennial herbs, including fennels and chives, as well others that children may not often see, such as Welsch onions which have beautiful big flower bulb at the top!”
Other flower bulbs were also planted in the area to provide some colour and support the bees in their pollination efforts throughout the year.
Some of the edible plants had been generously donated by another of our Councillors, Cllr Ann, while our Chair Ross provided some woodchips that were spread at the site.
Milly added: “I would like to say a special ‘thank you’ to our local gardener David Rivalin, for his unwavering support.”
During the spring, children from Eynsham Community Primary School will be growing marigolds from seeds, ready for planting in the Children’s Food Forest Garden. Later in the spring another community working session will be scheduled to help refresh the site and plant the students’ marigolds. Keep an eye on this website for the date and more details in early 2026.
Until then, Milly suggests that residents might like to visit the Food Forest Garden when out in the village, watching it develop as the seasons change. “Take a hop down our stone path and see how the plants grow into edible treats for next year!”