Bolitho Gardens: the Penzance beauty spot down to two volunteers

A slice of subtropical Cornwall sits on the slope above the beach at Penzance, all palm fronds and spiky architectural planting. For years a small band of volunteers kept it looking that way. That band has quietly shrunk. What began as a group of fourteen is now down to two.

📷Credit: Cormac

From fourteen pairs of hands to two

Bolitho Gardens, the community garden that runs along the seafront, is looking for new volunteers after watching its numbers fall away over the years. Members have left for all the ordinary reasons, ill health, changes in work, or moving away from the area, and the two who remain are now trying to care for a large site between them.

The garden’s original founders, Val Cocking and Judy Ellis, are the ones leading the appeal. Keeping a plot this size looking its best takes more than two pairs of hands, and they are hoping a few new faces will come forward to share the load.

📷Credit: Cormac

A day of weeding, mulching and cake

To give the pair a head start on bringing the gardens back to their original condition, staff from Cornwall Council‘s Democratic Services Department recently spent their volunteer day there, digging in alongside them. They were joined by volunteers from the nearby Newlyn Flora Group and by Councillor Jim McKenna, who rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in with everyone else.

The work was weeding, mulching and cutting back overgrown vegetation, and by all accounts the group had a good time doing it. Afterwards there was ginger and lemon cake, baked by Urban Ranger Becky, with plenty of tea and coffee to go round.

📷Credit: Cormac

How to get involved

The day went well enough that they want to do it all again. The next session at Bolitho Gardens is on Thursday 10 September, from 10am until 1pm, and anyone is welcome to come along and lend a hand.

All tools and equipment are provided. Volunteers just need sturdy boots or shoes and clothing to suit the weather and a bit of gardening, plus a packed lunch, sunscreen and a hat. To find out more, contact the Cormac volunteer team at [email protected], who would be glad to hear from you.

📷Credit: Cormac