By Isle of Wight Observer
Members from community groups in Sandown joined together to launch a community commemorative garden initiative, at Sandown’s Broadway Centre. The launch of the project marked International Women’s Day on March 8, and also provides a space for D-Day@80 celebrations and other anniversaries.
Sandown Town Council’s first mayor, Cllr Heather Humby, joined with colleagues from the award-winning Sandown Green Town Volunteers (SGTV), Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat fund-raisers, and members of Line Dance IW.
Cllr Humby said: “I can remember seeing the troops getting ready for disembarkation, and the garden will provide a reflective place for generations to come.”
Christine Jackson, from SGTV, added: “It’s an ideal space for community groups, and individuals from the centre, to use in the summer and throughout the year.”
The community space has had several benches donated, including one from the 1800s, and has areas planted by the Townswomen’s Guild and trees planted by Sandown Green Town Volunteers when they received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Deputy mayor, Ian Fletcher, said he was pleased to see different generations represented in the garden and that the town council hopes to add to the garden in the future.
Mal Butler