A community gardener has been thanked by the team that run Burnham-On-Sea’s Marine Cove gardens this week as the project came to an end.
As Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported here, the £344,000 restoration project came to an end this week as the funding ran out after a seven-year programme of work and events.
On Saturday (November 4th), Marine Cove’s part-time community gardener, Jacqui Strong, held her final gardening session in the seafront gardens, where she was thanked by members of the Friends of Marine Cove, as pictured here.
“We are very grateful to Jacqui for all her work over the years, helping to make this a superb and we look forward to continuing to maintaining the gardens for the benefit of the town with Sedgemoor District Council,” said a spokesperson.
Back in 2010, we reported that the restoration of Burnham-On-Sea’s Marine Cove gardens had won £344,000 of lottery funding.
A programme of restoration has taken place over the years, with the shelters restored to their former glory, plus stonework upgraded and benches replaced, and a programme of outdoor events held.
Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun says the gardens will continue to be maintained by the authority and events will also be held by the Friends of Marine Cove group.
She explained: “In 2010 Sedgemoor District Council, along with Burnham and Highbridge Town Council and Viridor, received £344,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore Marine Cove Gardens. The funding also allowed for a part-time community gardener.”
“That funding was used up by December 2016 on the projects over the past six years. During that time, a lively volunteer group has been built up who, like the Friends of Apex Park, are very active in organising events.”
“Sedgemoor District Council will continue to liaise and head up the volunteer group as it has been doing for the past year and the group will decide the schedule of events. Clean Surroundings will also continue to maintain the gardens. We wish Jacqui well in the future.”
Jacqui told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Sedgemoor District Council working on the Marine Cove project and more recently projects around Health and Wellbeing.”
“I admire all the volunteers dedication and enthusiasm with many hours of giving to a lovely garden. I would also like to thank the many supporters through events, schools, community groups and projects we have been involved with. We have a lovely community and I am still going to be very much involved.”
