BGS Lacrosse coach and England Goal Keeper star, Mrs Greenwood, along with many volunteers have won two prestigious Ministry of Defence conservation awards. The team have lovingly restored and renovated a Grade II listed walled garden at Chicksands Camp in Bedfordshire. 

Mrs Greenwood reflected on the conservation project: “The world as we knew it stopped nearly a year ago and suddenly there was an abundance of time to fill. What if I told you I had a secret life during that time? The slowed tempo of life afforded me the opportunity to immerse myself into my potential dream job. Together with my 4 close friends we created a plan, individual roles and goals for the year then we set off to tame the 17th century walled jungle in front of us.

“My main role started with reviving ancient Muscat Grapevines, some over 200 years old. They are so old that the greenhouse was built around the vines. Each vine had become unruly and riddled with mildew and disease making the grapes inedible. I come from a background of farming, learning how to grow tobacco on our farm in the USA from the age of 13, but my knowledge was limited on viticulture. Determined to have usable produce, I searched high and low for more information regarding the cultivation and care of grapes in the UK and the history of the garden. Web based research provided a wealth of information and I was on the right track to produce a healthy crop. In January 2020, I pruned back the vines for the new season, continuously referring back to my sources. By August I was rewarded with 14kg of disease-free grapes that I used to produce a very small batch of wine. Along with the grapes, I manage all other fruiting plants on site in the orchard and inside the walled garden and will be taking on the lead gardener role this year.

“The amazing thing about this garden isn’t the attention or awards we have received, but the impact it has had on the community at the military base at Chicksands. Living on an enclosed estate can be isolating and, in a pandemic, even more so. Families joined us in the grounds to learn simple horticultural skills and took solace among the sunshine and rose blooms. Those with partners deployed strolled along the lavender lined walkway, toddling babies in tow. We grew hundreds of plants while garden centres were closed for people to create their own garden sanctuary or veg patch.

“Recently we received two prestigious awards for our contribution to Social Value, Heritage and Community from the Defence Infrastructure Organization and featured in various publications plus TV interviews. To say it has been a whirlwind adventure is an understatement. Our future plans are to bring in a charity to lead nature-based therapy for military personnel and families, something I will be heavily involved with.

“I didn’t know in 2018 when I walked through an unmarked green door into an overgrown gardeners dream world that my life would change forever. I’m so thankful I penned “Who takes care of this garden? Can I help?” on a board in the crumbling greenhouse because had I not, I never would have become a core founder of the Chicksands Conservation Group and found a major purpose outside of lacrosse. I don’t know where this path will take me, who knows, maybe you will see me on Gardeners World.”

Watch Mrs Greenwood’s interview with BBC Look East HERE.

View before and after photos of the garden HERE.