METROLAND Spring 2022

Four Acre Field
by Douglas Silverstone
For as long as I can remember there has been an
overgrown field in Chesham between Cannon Mill
Ave and Hill Farm. Its steadily been growing new
blackthorn bushes and gradually forgotten. It's an
Oasis, a hidden gem known only to the local area.
The history maps have it Labelled as “Four Acre
Field” and I understand it was gifted to Waterside
school way back when it was built in the 1940’s.
It was an old school playing field that was also used
informally by the locals. In 2012 it was recognised
as a potential community orchard, but it wasn’t
until 2021 and the arrival of a new Headteacher
that the idea for a community garden took shape.
The School had an idea to use the field for both
the benefit of the school and the local community.
At one end of the field is a forest school and at the
other a community garden.
The idea behind the garden is to use it for the
local community to grow their own food. It will help
people learn from each other and be involved with
the food that we eat. But more than that, and
after a difficult few years, it will create a focus for
us to come together. In doing this we make the
community stronger and we all eat better too.
The garden is already involved in several projects
including a 'Grow It, Cook, It Eat' It project funded
by Buckinghamshire Public Health which aims to
get local food to those who need it most.
The Community Garden officially opened in
November 2021, and is open to all who want to
get involved. The idea is that we’ll hold regular
planting days and watch the crops grow through
out the years. The local community have already
donated 5 fruit trees and built all of the planters.
Local businesses have got behind the project
donating wood chip, compost and other gardening
paraphernalia. Locals have built sheds, and got
dirty and we even had the local beavers plant 30
trees.
We’ve just recieved the great news that Chesham
Community Board has given us significant funding
to build deer fencing and make other improvements
to build the site into a true community space.
The school also benefits by building closer links to
the community and using the garden for education
and junior gardening clubs. Together with the
forest school it enables the school children to get
in touch with and develop their interest in nature.
It has been a joy to see the garden develop and
grow over the last few months. To see children
get their hands dirty and observe experienced
gardeners pass on their knowledge to people who
have never heard of a medlar. It will be amazing to
see children climb trees and watch butterflies land
on rare orchids as families picnic on the harvest
they’ve grown. It may sound idyllic but this is the
waterside way, and with the help of locals, the
school and businesses its only a few months from
coming to fruition.
We are planning for community days throughout
the year and we really want people to get involved.
Search for “Four Acre Field” on facebook for details.
It will be a pleasure to have you involved so we can
all share the vegetable bounty.
For more information email
watersidegarden@yahoo.com
METROLAND SPRING 2022 11