Announcing Our Exciting Next Steps
Broadway Village Gardens is excited to announce significant progress in the development of its much-anticipated community garden. The project, which began as an idea in May 2024 when two fields (totalling 3.55 acres) came up for sale, has now reached a major milestone with the completion of the land purchase. Thanks to the generous support of local resident Arlene Davies, who is now the proud owner of the two fields, Broadway Village Gardens (a Charitable Community Benefit Society) is on track to create a sustainable, inclusive green space for all.
Broadway Village Gardens will now move forward under a lease agreement with Arlene, where the two fields will be managed by and for the benefit of the local community. The Society will oversee the garden’s development and management, creating a space for everyone to enjoy.
Over the coming months, surveys will be conducted on the fields to support a planning permission application for planting a community orchard and determining whether additional permissions are required for other elements of the project. The goal is to begin planting and implementing the community’s top three voted projects (from a village-wide consultation held in May 2024) by ate spring 2025. These include:
- Communal gardens with seating
- Biodiversity projects
- A community orchard
While the primary work is scheduled for next spring, there will be opportunities for the community to get involved sooner. Several community days are planned over the coming months, where residents can lend their time and energy to help shape this shared space. Details on these events will be announced soon.
Arlene Davies, the new land owner, said “I moved to Broadway in 2009 and over the last 15 years the Cotswolds have become my home. Broadway is a very special place and I believe that it is important to support the community in which you live. When the land was put up for sale, I felt strongly that it should be retained as a green space within the village and I didn’t want to see it fall into the hands of developers. As it happened, Charli [Hartley] and I both had similar ideas for the land, so it was obvious to me that we should combine our efforts to secure the land for the future enjoyment of the Broadway community and visitors alike. I am looking forward to being a part of the Broadway Village Gardens project, which is working to bring the community together and transform the land to create a beautiful, natural space in the centre of the village.”
The Broadway Village Gardens committee currently consists of Charli Hartley, Joe Aspey, and Claire Spendley, who each bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the project. In the next phase, the committee aims to recruit more members and will be inviting the wider community to join in and support this initiative.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from both our benefactor, Arlene Davies, and the local community,” said Charli Hartley, Chair of the Broadway Village Gardens committee. “This project is about working together to create something that will benefit everyone, and will protect this green space in our village for future generations, too. We are so excited for what the future holds and we encourage anyone who wants to get involved to reach out.”
Get Involved:
Broadway Village Gardens invites local residents and anyone from the surrounding area to register their interest in volunteering or joining the committee. Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, community gardening, or just want to contribute, we would love to hear from you.
Contact Information:
Broadway Village Gardens
Email: volunteer@broadwayvillagegardens.co.uk
Website: www.broadwayvillagegardens.co.uk
