Broken-hearted volunteers who spent two years creating a community garden have been told it won’t be open to the wider public.
Pinchbeck Baptist Church has come in for criticism after telling the group that its ‘vision had changed’ and the garden wouldn’t be open.
Charlotte Kehlan Kebbell has been leading the project since it started two years ago, and she said she had no idea what had changed, or why.
“The church wanted me to call it a community garden when we first started, and that is what we were creating,” she said.
People and companies donated time and materials over the course of the project and those getting involved were giving to a community garden.
But when Charlotte approached the church leadership team to arrange an official opening for May, she was told the news.
“I have been informed that the church do not wish to go ahead with the project, and therefore the garden will not be opened as a public resource. To say that the team are gutted is an understatement. We have been given no reason for this decision except that the mission of the church has changed.
“I have worked on and promoted this project in good faith and I sincerely apologise to all of you who have donated your time, garden items and money to the garden. If there is a way forward, I can’t see it at this time,” said Charlotte.
There was a public meeting earlier this month, to which the church leadership team was invited, but they did not attend.
Luke Jackson, CEO of My Castle Property Maintenance, said he was sorry about the outcome.
“We were told it would be a safe place for people struggling with mental health issues and a place to sit, talk and feel involved,” he said in a social media post.
“Myself and my team donated a lot of time and materials in the understanding it would be used for the people of Pinchbeck,” he added.
Volunteer Steven Ray said he was devastated by the news.
“My peer support worker took me along to help with the garden,” he said.
“Wellbeing Lincs would bring volunteers along. It’s been a heartbreaking time, I loved doing that garden as it helped my mental health,” he said.
Charlotte said she and the others had put so much hard work into the garden that they didn’t want it to fail.
“Their communication has been terrible. They had two years to tell us if it wasn’t what they wanted.
“I gave regular updates, attend the church and appealed for donations. It’s so very sad.
“We even had a Community Champion grant of £900 from the Co-op.”
The church was approached for comment but declined.
