Current Projects
Garden Maintenance
The core aim for our gardening management is to protect and support nature and the biodiversity of species in the garden through practical measures such as :-
- “No Mow” periods, allowing more wild areas to develop and thus provide food and habitats for vertebrates and invertebrates, eg slowworms, slugs
- planting plants (a) for their climate resilience (b) to provide year-round food for pollinators, birds and small mammals
- providing and maintaining human-made habitats for a diverse range of insects and other invertebrates, small mammals, reptiles and birds eg nesting boxes, compost heaps, bug hotels.
As you can imagine the garden takes a lot of looking after. Since the retirement of many long-serving members of the management in December 2024, its maintenance has been in the expert care of Fi Studden from Parklife CIC (https://parklifesw.org.uk) and our trusty volunteers. Every Tuesday from 12 – 3pm through spring, summer and autumn, a team of Totnes residents turn up to add their man and womanpower to the tasks of the day; making compost, pruning, dead-heading, weeding, sweeping, raking, planting, keeping the donations plant table serviced, all are typical tasks.
The number of volunteers grew from 2 to 14 in total during 2025, with 4-7 people turning up most Tuesdays. People give whatever time they can, from 1 to 3 hours and really enjoy being there. There is a lot of good feeling towards the garden, for obvious reasons, and many want to show their appreciation by helping look after it. If you want to come along, you don’t need to have any gardening skills as you will learn by doing and you can choose the kind of job that suits you. Fi’s warm personality sets the tone and there’s always time to chat and get to know each other over tea and biscuits.
Mowing and hedge-cutting are done by South Hams West Devon Council and strimming by free-lance gardener Stewart Moir.
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Now and into the Future
Our objective is to provide a mixed garden; a herbaceous border with shrubs and annuals too, natural self-seeded areas, native and non- native species of trees, fruit trees, lawn, woodland, play space, resting space and seasonal information board.
Our aims are to achieve sustainability and greater biodiversity in the garden through:
- sustainable planting, choosing plants for their hardiness, resilience to drought and maximum benefit to wildlife ie providing year-round food for insects and birds.
- minimal mowing of wildflower areas which provide natural habitats for insects, mini-beasts,small mammals, birds thereby increasing diversity. Amphibians and reptiles live in the long uncut grass through the summer.
- maintaining composts which also provide valuable habitats for wide range of invertebrates and reptiles eg slow-worms
- maintaining the bug hotel – continually looked after by local schoolchildren.
- the woodland area contributes wild areas in accordance with the 30:30 Global Initiative
- an information board provides details of seasonal wildlife throughout the year
The Pool Project (Immersion Bath)
The Garden contains a small triangular stone pool standing in a secluded corner site within the main Garden. The pool, which is in poor repair, is fed by water from the Leechwell. It was Scheduled in 2005 as an Immersion Bath associated with the Leechwell Holy Well (Mon no 3603).
Historic England have suggested a staged plan for investigation/repairs /funding.
Stage One is a field investigation of the pool area and of the garden of Leechwell Cottage above (overseen by a qualified archaeologist) Project will require funding. Results will inform-
Stages Two and Three – the design of the Pool (and how the water enters via the leat or the pipe) and then the repairs to the pool itself. These two stages will require Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) from Historic England. Once this is obtained, the LGA will apply for additional grant funding to carry out the work on the pool.
Stage Four – will be the replanting of the pool and pool area, a new notice board and the establishment of a viewing platform accessible from the main path so that the pool area can be seen but cannot be entered by the public. (The pool – approx 3.6ft deep – is a danger to children and the fabric of the pool, particularly steps and edges, is vulnerable to damage) Will require funding.
At the moment, the pool is fenced off meanwhile allowing full public access to the main garden.
OVERALL – the challenge:
- To understand more about the history of the pool/area by field investigation/possibility of a leat in garden of Leechwell cottage
- To inform design of how the water enters the pool
- To make the pool stable and waterproof
- To enclose the pool appropriately (as it is currently) for safety reasons
- To provide a viewing platform, additional planting and information board in/near this area
These proposed restorations and changes to the pool cannot be undertaken without Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC).
Scheduled Monument Consent
This entails a formal process with detailed plans which have to be agreed with Historic England before consent is granted. The process includes: identifying the significance of structure, agreed field investigation of the site, specifying the repair and other works required, identifying an appropriate repair methodology based on sound conservation principles and agreeing acceptable specialist contractors to carry out the work.
Financing repairs to the pool
Stages 1/4 might be funded and partly executed by variety of more informal, community means. Stages 2/3 will require more formal grant applications and specialistconservators to be involved. Once SMC is obtained, the LGA will apply for Lottery or other funding to carry out the agreed work. Grant applications cannot be made until SMC is in place. Because of this, repairs to the pool, and its full incorporation into the garden, may be delayed.