In spite of incessant rain, a valiant band of around forty members of the St Albans Stake turned out to tame the newly acquired piece of land that will eventually become the St Albans Community Gardens. This is a four and a half acre site which was in need of clearance so that the area will be wheelchair friendly, with raised beds that can be used by those unable to stand, and an area devoted to a sensory garden for those with sight impairments. It is hoped that anyone who enjoys gardening and being in the fresh air will be able to come to a safe environment and use the plots to grow flowers and vegetables.
A small excavator and a dumper truck had been hired by the enthusiastic organisers, John and Kate, to enable the members to work on digging out a path and laying gravel, and this equipment was put to good use by Bishop Charles Farnsworth of the St Albans Ward and Bishop Nathan Botterell of the Dunstable Ward. These two stalwarts toiled from 10am till 3pm to compete this challenge, but it had to be continued on the following Monday, which was Bank Holiday, when a team comprising mainly of Hitchin members returned to carry on while the equipment was still on site. The weather that day was sunny and dry so the afternoon was spent finishing the excavating and laying the foundation for the path.
The Saturday was spent clearing bindweed and this filled a large number of black bags. Weeding and hoeing the plots was undertaken by the families in attendance much to the delight of John and Kate who were on site to supervise the progress. Sister Julie Barry and husband, Jim, had arranged a marquee filled with painting and colouring books, races and games to entertain the children while their parents worked. The rain stopped play at 3pm that day, but the project’s main aim, laying the foundation for the pathway, was completed satisfactorily on the Monday.