Wild in Campsea - NIMBYism at its best! (That's Nature In My Back Yard!!)

Sue Field finds out more about this community that Grows Together’

Could your community be as innovative and biodiverse as Campsea Ashe, a village of around 400 residents in Suffolk? It’s an amazing tale of one family’s vision for something which would benefit not only local people but the area’s wildlife. A community garden for the community and cared for by the community.

Wild about Campsea was started during the pandemic by the Wilson family who were inspired by a wildlife-friendly village initiative as a result of a Parish Council survey. Why not have a village garden where people could give as much or as little time as they wanted? New build houses with small gardens and lack of time seem very much to be a 21st-century blight but here was a way to help people and nature. Thanks to a stalwart group of initial volunteers and the support of a very helpful Council, an area was set aside on the village green for the project. The aim - to combine growing food with increasing biodiversity.

STARTING UP

East Suffolk Council were offering grants to enable such projects to become a reality and with the enthusiasm of around 10 initial volunteers, things started to take shape. As the Parish Council were supporting the initiative and dealing with all the admin, there was no need for committees, bank accounts and all the red tape that can accompany some projects. A plot was earmarked next to the village hall (with their committee giving full support) in a great central location and thanks to the knowledgeable village gardener volunteers, plans were drawn up. Campsea is fortunate enough to call the current Director General of the RHS, Dr Clare Matterson, one of its residents, and Clare’s input was invaluable.