THE gardens at Cressing Temple, set amongst the famous mediaeval barns and which include the Tudor Walled Garden, are looking for friends.

Everyone with an interest in the gardens is invited to the first ‘Friends’ meeting to be held at Cressing Temple on Tuesday March 26 at 7pm.

Cressing Temple barns and gardens have been dominant features of the landscape in central Essex for 800 years. The present Wwalled garden was developed by Essex County Council and local enthusiasts in the early 90s using archaeological and historical evidence to faithfully reproduce a Tudor garden of the type that would have been, very probably, in daily use in the 16th century.

The quality of research, development and reconstruction has been recognised as a considerable and unique achievement.

In order to maintain the historical and horticultural integrity of this and the other gardens on this World Heritage site, the Essex Gardens Trust and others have come together to form a ‘Friends’ group.

The county council has welcomed this development which will work to promote the gardens as a place of research, education as well as a source of therapeutic and medicinal plant knowledge.

Friends of Cressing Temple gardens will also encourage volunteers to come and give practical help, either in the gardens, archiving or on special open days.

County councillor Jeremy Lucas, cabinet member for Customer Services, Environment and Culture, said: “As you step within the Tudor walls of the stunning garden, you step back in time.

“The Cressing Temple site really is a beautiful site to behold, and the forming of this group will give local residents the opportunity to get involved and work more closely with the development of the garden.”

For information on Cressing Temple, go to cressingtemple.co.uk. To find out more on the ‘Friends’ click on the ‘Friends of gardens’ tab.

Or contact David Andrews (dormerandrews@gmail.com) or Christine Barrett (crbarrett@blueyonder.co.uk)

Residents can also get involved with volunteering opportunities in environment and conservation projects across the county by visiting goodforessex.org. Volunteering doesn’t necessarily mean a large amount of commitment and registering on the website will simply and quickly match interests to opportunities in local communities.