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Bridge End Garden has reaped two awards for its achievements with community involvement at the very heart of the Saffron Walden restoration project.
It proved to be top of the crop when winners of the regional heat of the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Awards 2007 were announced at Ickworth House in Suffolk last Thursday (17 May) at a special gala dinner. First came the news it had won its category for Community Benefit which was looking for outstanding achievements in providing community facilities, whether single buildings or multiple units in urban, rural or coastal areas.
Photo shows left to right: RICS Vice President Tony Towell; Uttlesford District Cllr David Morson, Chairman of Bridge End Garden Working Party; Christine Kelman from Friends of Bridge End Garden; Marianne Suhr of BBC2's 'Restoration' programme; Bridge End Garden Restoration Manager John Bosworth and his Uttlesford District Council colleague Head Gardener Mark Ropkins.
Next Bridge End Garden (BEG) was declared Project of the Year - and it now goes forward to compete in the international RICS Awards in October this year.
BEG's Restoration Manager John Bosworth said: "The Community Benefit was the largest category - and then we won the ultimate prize of the evening. We were thrilled to win these prestigious awards – and we very much appreciate the help all the community groups have given us and hope they will continue to do so in the future.
"We don't stand still and the community bit of scheme continues to grow from strength to strength. And all of us own the garden and sometimes in different ways. And that's what it's all about, at least it is for me."
Regarded as the 'Oscars' of the built and natural environment, the RICS Awards recognise excellence, value for money and a commitment to sustainability. Entries were judged across four categories: Building Conservation, Regeneration (sponsored by English Partnerships), Sustainability (sponsored by the Electrical Contractors' Association) and Community Benefit (sponsored by Inspire East). Marianne Suhr of BBC Two's Restoration programme presented the Awards, alongside Simon Pott, past President of RICS. English Heritage and Ridgeons are sponsors of the RICS East of England Awards 2007.
Cllr David Morson, former chairman of both Bridge End Garden's Working Party and UDC's Community Committee, said: "Uttlesford District Council is absolutely delighted the project has been recognised for its community involvement that is so important to all."
Many schools also use Bridge End Garden. Pictured is a group of RA Butler Junior School’s Year 5 pupils aged 9 to 10 years old on a visit.Tasks for pupils on their visits have included grass seeding, levelling of the soil in the green house and extensive weeding to paths and the Dutch Garden area. Science Coordinator Mrs Julia Mackintosh has arranged three trips, each with a different group of Year 5 pupils from the South Road school in Saffron Walden. She said:
"The children thoroughly enjoyed their visits, and are looking forward to seeing all the progress in the gardens. I know many of them have taken their families to see the patch they worked on."
Pupils from other Saffron Walden schools who also regularly visit BEG include Saffron Walden County High, Friends, St Marys Primary and Katherine Semar.
Keep up to date with John Bosworth's very own BEG Newsletters.
Use this link to read John's latest letter.
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