How ‘unloved’ land in Amesbury became a community garden

The King Charles Sensory Garden opened in April 2024 on land that was previously used by construction teams for the building of thousands of homes.

Work to turn the space into a community garden was funded by Bloor Homes. Art and design consultancy firm Ginkgo Projects commissioned artist Juliet Haysom to design and create the space, reflecting the area's history and landscape.

Monthly Sensory Garden Days are now being held on the third Sunday of the month (weather dependent) to encourage locals to participate in the garden's development and upkeep, organised by environmental artist and gardener Charli Clark.

Around a dozen people helped out on Sunday (Image: Newsquest) These aim to improve the wildlife habitat through gardening and craft activities such as building hedgehog houses and making pebble and log piles.

When the Salisbury Journal visited a rescheduled session on October 27, around a dozen people turned out to plant an impressive 2,000 spring flower bulbs (scilla, narcissus and crocus).

“If you want to be somewhere, you care for it,” said Charli, who travels from her home in Bristol to run the sessions.

“It will be great if the kids walk through here in March when the bulbs come up and think, ‘I planted that!’.”

Volunteers planted around 2,000 spring flower bulbs (Image: Newsquest) She previously worked with fellow artist Sylvia Rimat to bring a tranquil wildflower meadow to Broadmead, a shopping quarter in her home city.

A key part of her work is encouraging people of all ages to get involved in nature by promoting and protecting public spaces, such as the one in Amesbury.

“I want to help people who live in the local area to feel a bit of ownership over the land and the garden,” she said.

“Before the garden was here, it was wasteland and a dumping ground. There were rats and litter – it was a bit unloved.

“As it was unloved for so long, people don’t know it’s here, but it’s a garden to be used.

“We had eight people come last time, and this time it looks like we have a good crowd – but it’s about getting the word out.

“Usually, there’s some kind of nature activity or something that will improve the garden in the future, and there’s normally cake and something crafty.”

Artist Juliet Haysom drew inspiration from Amesbury's chalk and flint landscape when she designed the garden (Image: Newsquest) Charli organises the sessions through the King Charles Sensory Garden Group on Facebook.

The next session, scheduled for November 17, will see 1,000 more bulbs planted – this time, alliums, leucojums and cyclamen.

Charli welcomes ideas from locals for the future of the garden and says there is a budget in place for its design and upkeep.

You can find the King's Gate Garden at the end of Princess Way or by searching for celebrate.backup.sticks on the What3Words app.