Epping Green Millennium Garden

Size: 0.57 hectares

Grid Reference: TL 43656 05318 click here for streetmap.co.uk

Owners: Epping Upland Parish Council

Access: Open Access via public footpath.

The idea for the Millennium Garden began back in January 1999, when Countrycare was approached by Epping Upland Parish Council with an idea to create a wildlife garden for the millennium on an area of redundant allotments within the village. In July 1999, the Parish Council with the assistance of Countrycare made an application to the Lottery "Awards for all" and were successful with a bid of £1,500. This provided funding for the planting of 800 trees, the creation of a small pond and the seeding of part of the site with wildflowers.

Countrycare then organised a series of volunteer days as work got underway in March 2000. The initial work involved the clearance of bramble and the planting of 400 trees to form a new 100m hedge on the western boundary. In the late 2000 work began on the creation of a wildflower area and the digging of a pond. This was completed in February 2001 and in November 2001 a further 100 trees were planted in the existing hedges.

From 2002 onwards work has concentrated on trying to establish a wildflower meadow. This was always going to be difficult on an area of allotments that have been highly fertilised over many  years. However, after a number of  years cutting and removing all the grass the fertility of the land is slowly dropping. Finer herbs are appearing along with a few other interesting plants such as Common Spotted Orchids. The area that was seeded with a wildflower mix is developing well and it is hoped that in time seed from this area will begin to spread across the rest of the site.

In 2006, Countrycare signed a management agreement with the Parish Council commiting to the long term management of the site. Volunteer days will continue to be held to imporve the boundary hedges and the grassland.