HOYLAND’S community garden, Owd Martha’s Yard, has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award for the second year running.
The garden, which sits behind the Belmont Working Men’s Club on West Street, is open to everyone to go along and enjoy its beauty, peacefulness and produce.
Owd Martha’s Yard is maintained purely on the generosity of volunteers who work together to make sure that the garden is a great place for all to enjoy.
It is funded mainly by donations and money has been given to the garden by The Big Lottery, Tesco Bags for Help, The Postcode Local Trust, Green People Change the World and Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estates, alongside events the volunteers host themselves to raise funds.
All money given to the garden has gone towards the construction of two water harvesting systems, the building of an eco greenhouse, the provision of three picnic benches, a stone paved footpath and many other things.
Owd Martha’s Yard holds a number of different events throughout the year, and so far this year has included a cookery demonstration using herbs grown in the garden, as well as events on Easter Monday, St George’s Day and Yorkshire Day.
The idea of Owd Martha’s Yard came to life after Charlotte Oughton and Alison Richardson decided to get the space up and running again.
They approached the owners of the club and rented half an acre of land frFom there they asked a few people to attend a meeting at Hoyland Centre, and that’s where a committee was formed and the garden was born.
Chairperson of the garden, Allan Wood, said: “I feel very honoured that Owd Martha’s Yard has been nominated again.
“We are an excellent group of 16 people who, collectively, bring many different qualities to the table.
“There has been a massive amount of work carried out during the past year and it continues to flourish.
“The garden is very well loved and used by many.”
