Join Jane Prescott, The Manx Herbalist, in the garden known as Garey Yn Ellan Ain, or Our Island Garden, located on Station Road in St Johns. Hear the story about how this vacant demolition site, formerly the site of the Farmer’s Arms, was transformed into a temporary garden to celebrate the Year of Our Island in 2018. Local pressure meant that the garden wasn’t dismantled the next year, as planned. It has since become a much-loved local sanctuary, visited by locals, passers-by and wildlife.
The raised beds in the garden have each been adopted and are looked after by a community group of enthusiastic individuals. Jane, who designed the garden, now manages one of these beds through The Manx Herbalist, to show how garden plants can also be used for herbal home remedies. The garden also contains other wild weeds that have seeded themselves there, which also have therapeutic benefits and attract wildlife.
Being a temporary garden, Garey Yn Ellan Ain is now showing signs of wear and tear and a local group, supported by Manx Wildlife Trust and the Prison and Probation Service, have been fund-raising and organising work parties to carry out repairs and replanting to ensure that the garden continues as a vibrant local community garden into the future.
This will be a slow-paced visit and we will explore the garden, its herbs and the wildlife that calls it home. If time permits, there will be a couple of herbal teas to sample, made using herbs from The Manx Herbalist bed. We will meet at the entrance to the garden, opposite the car park to the south of St Johns School. There is ample car parking available in this car park and a bus stop (No. 6) by the entrance. The garden is accessible, although the chipping surface is uneven in places. Well-behaved dogs are welcome and the visit will go ahead unless it is too wet, so bring appropriate coats and footwear. Proceeds to be put towards renovation work in the garden. No charge for children. Additional donations welcome. Email Jane on themanxherbalist@gmail.com to book your place.
Image Copywrite: Jane Prescott
