Whickham Hermitage Community Garden is to be found along Hermitage Lane, directly behind the Community Centre. The project began in September 2001 when Dave Peacock initiated discussions with Gateshead Council. After 2 years of dialogue, the Council granted our group a 10 year rolling lease.
Work began on half of the existing garden in March 2004 and in September 2006, the garden was officially opened.
In January 2008, we were given permission to extend into the other half of the garden. Work began on this phase in October 2008 and was undertaken with outstanding help and support from Gateshead Probation Service and Community Payback. All hard landscaping and the bulk of planting was completed by early May 2009.
The garden has won many awards including Northumbria In Bloom, and winners of Beautiful Gateshead.
We are still developing our planting schemes and always strive to get it just right.
How To Get Involved
We are eager to encourage more volunteers to come forward to work in the garden, however, helpers need not necessarily be gardeners, as assistance of any kind is welcome. Help can be offered in many other ways - by giving advice or expertise, helping to arrange events or raise funds, or just giving us encouragement and support. Our volunteers come from different age groups, so you will never be too young or too old! Our hope is to create an awareness in Whickham that the garden needs to be sustained now and in the future.
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Dave Peacock on 07854438187 or email sharonpeacock@btinternet.com. We'd love to hear from you!
Hermitage Garden..
