A UNIQUE community garden which took shape during lockdown has now been captured on film for all to see.

Inspirational footage of the recently opened Duchy Barn Garden in the heart of Higham Ferrers ─ it is alongside the 15th Century Chichele College ─ is now available on YouTube.

And it is hoped there is also the chance that the film, commissioned by Higham Ferrers Tourism, could be aired on one of the country’s popular TV gardening shows.

“We would love to show the world exactly what can be done by a variety of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers,” said organiser and Higham Ferrers Tourism committee member, Carol Fitzgerald.

“The film is a tribute to all the people who gave their time, money, skills and gifts to turn an idea into a fascinating reality and the perfect social haven for years to come,” she added.

The film, by Gareth Hughes of HGA Studios in Northampton, was shot at the weekend as part of the Nene Valley Festival, which culminates in the Heritage Family Day at nearby Rushden Lakes on Sunday, 19 September.

The film was made possible following a grant from Nene Valley Festival.

The garden, on a strip of land owned by the Duchy of Lancaster and sandwiched between the side of Chichele College and a row of nearby barns used by local community charities, is part of the story of the pandemic, Carol explained.

It all began in November 2019 when volunteers from the local Co-op food store started clearing what was a derelict and overgrown, messy, muddy site.

Carol saw the potential of the site and various funds and grants enabled the mud to be transformed into a showpiece community garden with walkways, wheelchair-friendly paths, an arch and well-positioned seating.

And as it was a historical site, the Higham Ferrers Archaeology and Research Society (HiFARS) was called in and their excavations duly unearthed a wealth of ancient finds.

Then the HiFARS chair, Olwen Mayes, who doesn’t believe in leaving a stone unturned, discovered one interesting stone, which in turn led to further investigations. And when members got digging, they discovered some beautiful historic cobblestones.

The design plans were then changed to incorporate the cobblestones, which are now a major feature in the garden.

Meanwhile, a group of 5 volunteers ─ sticking to safe distancing rules ─ turned out in all types of weather to plant, weed and fashion the flower and vegetable gardens.

A “cottage garden” border near the entrance has been planted with flowers of the colours of the rainbow ─ so there is plenty of colour all year round ─ and volunteer Ann Osborn, who was busy working on the border at the weekend, explained that everything is geared to consider the wildlife.

“You can’t do what you would do at your garden at home. While we have to make the garden tidy, we also have to keep things like nettles, for instance, as the bees and butterflies need them,” she said.

As the movie camera recorded the action, members of the Gateway Club, a charity for adults with learning difficulties, who use the garden as a meeting venue, were also playing their part.

Member Tom Williams checked out an apple tree that he had planted last year, then joined his friends as they tidied the pumpkin patch, tied up giant sunflowers, harvested raspberries for lunch, then positioned a hedgehog box in the wildlife area under giant sycamore trees containing bird and bat boxes.