Volunteer army tidying up neglected public spaces

An army of volunteers has been clearing, putting in plants and maintaining neglected public spaces in a Kent seaside town.

Wilderness to Wonderland is a community garden project looking to "spruce up" parts of Margate.

The group has already restored abandoned land in front of the town's station, put in flower planters along the seafront and planted a cottage garden along a beach approach.

Rory Waitt, group founder, said: "It started out as a gardening project and has become an all-encompassing social project inspiring people to become the best versions of themselves."

Since 2021 the volunteers have transformed public spaces across Margate which, they say, has "created a positive, upbeat welcome for visitors and a space where residents can enjoy the fauna".

Mr Waitt said: "After Covid I took it upon myself to get out there and start tidying up the local environment.

"As time went on people started joining in and it's become a community of like-minded people."

Once areas have been cleared up the volunteer brigade of planners, planters, waterers and weeders maintain the gardens and public areas.

Mr Waitt said: "We've helped all sorts of people get integrated into Margate, newcomers, people who have had bereavements, people who don't get out.

"Anyone can come along for a couple of hours and the results are wonderful."

So far, volunteers have planted thousands of bulbs across the town.

Attendee Iris Johnston said: "My husband was in a nursing home and after some rather heavy visits I used to come down and work.

"It's a community activity but also doing something good that cheers people up."

Attendee Joanne Fetherston said: "I think when something looks cared for people look after other things.

"If it all looks rough nobody bothers at all."

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