Community gardener transforms 'rubbish dump'
BBCA woman who has turned a piece of land from a "rubbish dump" into a community garden has completely transformed the area, her neighbours said.
Christine Hammond started the work on the patch by a car park just off La Route de Beaumont near her home in Beaumont three years ago after it fell into disrepair.
Hammond said she had been moved by the response to the community garden, which has a range of plants, foliage and a bird bath, with people donating flower bulbs and other items.
She has been nominated for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards for her work for the community. The winners will be announced in September.
Hammond said she decided to do ask the Tenants of the Marsh of St Peter, who own the land, for permission to work at the site because she found the area quite depressing and thought it looked like a "waste land".
"It was a rubbish dump," Hammond said.
"Because it was unkempt and been like that for about 20 or 30 years, people then left more rubbish."
Hammond said the reaction to the garden had been quite overwhelming.
"I just wanted things to look nice, but people have been stopping after doing shopping and they sit in the car and sit for two or three minutes looking at the flowers because it makes them feel good," she added.
"The feedback's been so positive and it encourages me to keep going."
Helen Greenfield is one of Hammond's neighbours and has seen how much effort she has put into the garden.
Greenfield said it had made such a difference and it was "a pleasure to look out of my window and see everyone else enjoy it as they walk by".
She added: "It just shows if you put your mind to something then you can do it with the help and support of people and this has brought the community together.
"This has been a huge labour of love for Christine and she's been out here day-after-day all year and it's really paid off."
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