20/01/22: Councils meet to discuss Queen Mother's Garden in Dereham

Meetings are currently being held between Breckland Council and Dereham Town Council which aims to see The Queen Mother's Garden in Dereham refurbished to celebrate The Queen's Platinum Jubilee year.

Under Breckland Council's Thriving Places programme, aimed at supporting town centres to thrive and prosper, representatives from both councils have been meeting to discuss proposals and designs for The Queen Mother Gardens. Proposed designs will see the gardens in Dereham, set between St Withburga Lane and the High Street, undergo a refurbishment later this year. The space was dedicated to The Queen Mother in 1983 and plans intend to deliver a fresh new space for local residents and visitors to enjoy in this the popular market town.

The potential designs will aim to:

• Make the space more accessible.
• Enhance biodiversity, including sensory plants to stimulate residents with dementia.
• Install new picnic benches.
• Create a space for new public art.

The refurbishment of the public space comes less than a year after the town's Ellenor Fenn Garden was created by a partnership involving Breckland Council, Dencora and About Dereham.

Cllr Paul Hewett, Executive Member for Property and Projects at Breckland Council commented: "We are delighted to be working with Dereham Town Council on this prestigious project honouring The Queen Mother. The garden has tremendous potential to become a real gem in the town for its residents and visitors, and to become a learning space for nearby schools and residents with dementia."

Antony Needham, Town Clerk for Dereham Town Council commented: "Dereham Town Council will consider the proposals on Tuesday evening".