Marking a major milestone for peaceful green space in North Devon village

A green space in a North Devon village that allows local people to go back to nature has been celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Landkey Millennium Green, in the heart of Landkey, opened in 2000 after villagers had discovered plans for a large-scale housing development. After a lengthy campaign during the 1990s, the government ruled that the planned development should not go ahead.

The land which now forms the Millennium Green was donated by Pearce Construction Ltd to the parish council to be used as a recreational facility for the village.

Above: Millennium Green opening day, June 24, 2000. Standing, from left: Dave Butt (district councillor), Kate Ashbrook (a member of the Countryside Agency board and access officer for the Ramblers' Association), Richard (Dick) Joy (Landkey parish councillor), Michael Gee (a planner who played a large part in submitting the funding bid for the green), Nick Harvey MP, Norman Tucker (the farmer on whose land the green was created). Seated from left: Lyn Morton (Landkey parish councillor), Jane Barton (Millennium Green Trust secretary), Karen Trigger (Millennium Green trustee), Mrs Tucker. Credit: Karen Trigger

The original idea had been for a mazzard orchard. Mazzards are a type of cherry indigenous to Landkey and which grew in profusion in orchards around the village in the 19th century.

With the benefit of funding from the National Lottery, the project grew to include the planting of a new woodland and a wildflower meadow.

Above: Creating the Landkey Millennium Green in 1999. Credit: Landkey Millennium Green trustees

With the year 2000 approaching, initiatives to mark the new millennium were being funded by the Millennium Commission which received £2.7billion of National Lottery money.

The newly-created Landkey Millennium Green trust applied for funds through the Countryside Agency as part of the government's initiative to create new public open spaces, and was awarded £35,000.

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Michael Gee, former chairman of the trust, explained: “It wasn’t a park. It was supposed to be somewhere that was natural and had a sort of special quality because of its ‘naturalness’.

“In that sense, the Millennium Green in Landkey was a bit different to many of the ones that were set up.”

A portion of this money was used to create paths across the former farmland and to install picnic tables and seats to enable villagers to gain access to and enjoy this new amenity. A further sum was set aside for the planting of the mazzard orchard.

Above: The woodland area at the Millennium Green. Credit: Richard Maynard

The trustees have been able to obtain further lottery funding for the 25th anniversary, and this has been used for a number of improvements, including repairing a leaky storage area for equipment and also the provision of new signboards. These include a QR code which enables visitors to access online information about the nature of the green.

In March, more mazzard trees were planted to mark the anniversary, as well as the addition of two ‘bug hotels’ – wooden boxes that create a habitat for insects, made by local craftsman Russell Maynard.

In July, the Millennium Green also hosted a nature event with North Devon ecologist and botanist Mary Breeds.

Above: Planting more mazzard trees earlier this year to mark the 25th anniversary. Credit: Landkey Millennium Green trustees

Looking ahead, a new village hall planned for Landkey close to the Millennium Green will include toilet facilities, a covered area and parking. Having these amenities will boost educational opportunities.

Children from Landkey Primary School already make nature visits, and it is hoped that with better facilities, more children from Barnstaple will also be able to benefit.

Above: Local craftsman Russell Maynard (left) and Michael Gee with one of the bug hotels installed to mark the 25th anniversary. Credit: Landkey Millennium Green trustees

Michael added: “We've got a microcosm of habitats on the green, so that they can come out and study what's in a woodland, a meadow, a wetland and look at an ancient orchard all within five minutes of being based in the hall.”

The site will also continue to host the popular wassail event in January, an ancient English tradition, primarily celebrated in cider-making regions.

Martin Lusby, the current chairman of trustees, added: “All the work on the green is done by volunteers. It’s all unpaid. It’s a small band of volunteers that go and do whatever needs to be done to keep the green in a manageable state, which is not always easy.”

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