Jesmond United Reformed Church’s revamped Haldane House Community Wildlife Garden was opened this weekend by Councillor Felicity Mendelson, signing off the last phase of the 10 year regeneration project.

Heritage Lottery funding made the new garden possible

Cllr Mendelson told JesmondLocal she was “really pleased to be able to endorse the project”. She knows the gardens will be a “welcome spot” for locals, emphasising the improved seating and wheelchair access in light of the new care home to be built on Burdon Terrace. “The garden will be of real benefit to those residents who will be able to get out and about”.

Haldane House Community Wildlife Garden, previously Manse Garden, has been transformed from being “run down” into a “lovely oasis” according to Alison Sheil, Jesmond URC Secretary. The garden, first built in the 19th century, has been regenerated with a full funding grant from the Heritage Lottery.

The garden’s potting shed has been rebuilt, the flowers beds renewed and seating provided. Along with the addition of two fruit trees from Jesmond Community Orchard, the garden is to be a pleasant, natural environment for the surrounding community, important to Sheil as “in this part of Jesmond … very few people have large gardens”. In the coming summer months the garden should fully blossom into an “oasis” of nature and become home to an abundance of wildlife.

Church elder Rosemary Towers attended a Jesmond Community Orchard grafting course held in the community garden last year. Fiona Clarke, Chair of Jesmond Community Orchard remained in contact with Towers and has offered advice on current and future planting and cultivation ideas.

Alison Sheil has updated JesmondLocal on the progress since phase 1 completion in November 2014. The second and final phase of the regeneration project has seen a lot of cosmetic change to the church and grounds. The second major landscaping project within the church grounds was, like the community gardens, carried out by Mike Hunter from Jesmond Gardens; providing a rose garden, seating and paths which the “community are very welcome to use”.

Sheil also describes a “stunning new entrance and foyer, new toilets in the hall, and further redecoration”. The church is now a more accessible, more community-centred building than at the outset of this process, which was a central goal for the planning committee. The church’s improved facilities have attracted many bookings for concerts, workshops, exhibitions, meetings and social events. All of the work carried out on the church has been made possible by funding from the Synod Trust of the URC Northern Synod, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Catherine Cookson Foundation.

Preacher John Ellis, the Moderator of the URC General Assembly, who led the rededication service on Sunday at 3pm, spoke on seeing the culmination of 10 years discussion, planning and work completed: “It is a pleasure … to see how the Jesmond United Reformed Church building has been transformed, retaining its historic features but making it much more attractive for meeting contemporary needs”. When asked if such revolutionary, yet necessary work should be considered by other churches, Ellis emphasised the need to assess the community context, time, energy and money involved. He congratulated Jesmond URC’s willingness in being “bold and considering major work” as it has given “a new energy to the churches work”.

The church and gardens are open for the whole community to enjoy. The church will be hosting a ceilidh and supper as part of Jesmond Community Festival, May 9^th. Tickets available from Moira Copeland (0191 281 3639).