Family pushing to reestablish community garden
Christina Willing opens the tall wire gate to what was once a community garden, now overgrown with broom and largely forgotten. She scowls at a sign that reads B次元官网网址淲illing Park Closed.B次元官网网址�
About 10 years ago the garden was abandoned, although the tall deer fencing and a broken down shed remains. But with homes and townhouses cropping up next door in Valley View Estates, Willing wants the community to get better use from the park that bears her family name.
B次元官网网址淲e already have a fenced in area for a garden. The rest is a natural area enjoyed by animals and birds,B次元官网网址� says Willing, as she walks through a pasture that was once part of her familyB次元官网网址檚 dairy farm.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see a garden and community trails. ItB次元官网网址檚 a place people can go as a family and have a picnic in a natural area. There are all kinds of possibilities.B次元官网网址�
More than 12 years ago Willing and her late husband donated about five acres to Langford, and the City purchased the rest to create 14-acre Willing Park, a public greenspace that, despite the initial stab at gardening, has remained idle and little known.
Willing, 85, has walked the property almost every day since settling on the farm in 1945. A stream cuts the rough land under a canopy of alder and cedar trees. It remains home to chirping birds and deer, and in earlier days, the odd bear and cougar.
Melanie Willing, the wife of one of ChristinaB次元官网网址檚 grandsons, says as higher-density housing becomes the norm across Langford, the demand for community gardens will only increase. A decade ago, the land next door was a chicken farm, now itB次元官网网址檚 a growing residential neighbourhood.
B次元官网网址淭he numbers (of people) are here now. ThereB次元官网网址檚 lots of homes with little or no yard,B次元官网网址� Melanie says. B次元官网网址淟angfordB次元官网网址檚 focus is big box shopping and all the amenities, which is great. Still there is room for heritage agriculture and farming.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e need people interested in it and not to leave it. It is a valuable piece of land as far as agriculture goes. ItB次元官网网址檚 very good soil,B次元官网网址� the elder Willing says. B次元官网网址淚f you look at the community now, houses lack any type of garden. And people are becoming more interested where their food comes from.B次元官网网址�
Langford Coun. Lanny Seaton, chair of the parks and recreation committee, admits that indeed, the City doesnB次元官网网址檛 have any plans for the greenspace.
At one point part of the park was eyed as a place to run dogs, and rough measurements were made to see if ball diamonds would fit, but nothing is on the table.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been so busy with the Sportsplex and the new fields, thatB次元官网网址檚 really taken a lot of energy and resources,B次元官网网址� Seaton says. B次元官网网址淚f we were to do something (with Willing Park), weB次元官网网址檇 get together with the community.B次元官网网址�
The fenced-off garden has no running water or power to run a well, he noted, making a potential community garden more difficult to maintain.
B次元官网网址淚 could see a community group running (a garden),B次元官网网址� Seaton said. B次元官网网址淥ur vision is to keep it open and wild. But itB次元官网网址檚 good property, and weB次元官网网址檙e holding onto it, but we have no real plans for it.B次元官网网址�
Ideally, the Willings would like to see it left wild too, although with a few maintained walking trails and places to have a picnic. Access is better too, they say, since the completion of Frederic Road off Willing Drive. People can also access the park off Wild Ridge Way.
B次元官网网址淚 want it developed into a park while IB次元官网网址檓 still here,B次元官网网址� the elder Willing said. B次元官网网址淧eople need a place to go where there is peace and quiet, especially these days. IB次元官网网址檇 love to leave some places around so my grandchildren and great-grandchildren can enjoy the outdoors.B次元官网网址�
Holding her young daughtersB次元官网网址� hands, Melanie agrees, and hopes people will step forward to help re-establish the community garden.
B次元官网网址淭he neighbours have no idea itB次元官网网址檚 here. ItB次元官网网址檚 so hidden away,B次元官网网址� Melanie says. B次元官网网址淚 hope people in the community become aware of this hidden little secret.B次元官网网址�
Anyone interested in a community garden at Willing park can email Melanie Willing at mkwilling@hotmail.ca.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
