EXCITING TIMES are blossoming in Sandbank as the long-anticipated community garden finally begins to take shape.
After months of behind- the-scenes efforts and unexpected delays, the project is now visibly moving forward—much to the delight of local residents.
Anyone passing the garden site will now see major developments, including the arrival of two new portable cabins. One will serve as a cosy meeting space complete with a kitchenette, tables, and chairs – an inviting spot for gardeners to take a break, enjoy a hot drink, or even heat up soup made from vegetables grown on-site. Future plans include using the Oakbank Community Inn kitchen across the street to cook up fresh, garden-to- table meals.
The same portable cabin also houses an accessible toilet, ensuring the space is welcoming and inclusive for all. The second container, brought in earlier, will be used as
an office and potting shed, providing shelter during less favourable weather. A third now serves as a tool store, already stocked with wheelbarrows, compost bins, gloves, aprons, hand tools, and a variety of seeds and pots—thanks to both purchases and generous donations from residents.
Adding to the growing momentum are two new polytunnels on the site. One, funded by the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) initiative, and another donated by a local resident, will allow for a wider range of crops to be cultivated— such as tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, and sweetcorn—as well as early seed propagation.
Accessibility is also a key focus, with plans underway to construct a deck with ramps in front of the containers, ensuring easy entry for all.
The garden is shaping up not just as a space to grow food, but as a vibrant community hub—nurtured by teamwork, generosity, and shared vision.
