Celebrating Frome’s Millennium Green

FROME Millennium Green has been at the heart of Frome’s community for 23 years. Before it was created there was no easy route from North Parade down to Rodden Meadow, no spots to sit and enjoy the view of Cley Hill. It was just the abandoned former garden of North Hill House.

That all changed with the plans to mark the millennium. Money from the National Lottery was given to the Countryside Agency, which in turn created 245 Millennium Greens in cities, towns and villages across England. And so, Frome gained a new open space, forming as it does an invaluable green corridor and wildlife haven right in the very centre of town.

Frome’s Millennium Green is situated on a south-facing slope and is a mixture of grassland, scrub and woodland. A design was created that made the site accessible from North Parade, with a viewpoint and places to sit and picnic that made best use of its views of Rodden Meadow and beyond. The existing woodland was enhanced with plantings of native species including field maple, spindle and wild service trees as well as an orchard, planted with old West Country varieties of culinary, dessert and cider apples. At the time Frome Rotary also planted three commemorative cherry trees alongside crab apples and pear trees.

The Millennium Green was officially opened in May 2000 with a day filled with music, sprites with wildflowers, Maids Morris Dancers and a chance for visitors to try their hand at numerous crafts including spinning/weaving, pottery and withy working.

From the very conception of the project, local artists and craftspeople were involved. Many were commissioned to make seating, railings, sculpture and poetry stones. Additionally, a beautifully carved oak picnic table and benches made by sculptor Anthony Rogers was added. Students from St John’s First School helped inspire the nature carvings on the benches after an afternoon spent on the Green with Anthony.

Recently Frome Town Council became the sole trustees of Millennium Green, and the Ranger team will now take on the day-to-day management of the area.

Original trustee Sue Bucklow said, “I think all of those involved with the many new Millennium Greens did not quite take on board that after their creation the trust would be caring for them in perpetuity, reliant on fundraising and volunteers and everything that involved. Speaking as a ‘hands on’ trustee myself, I am forever thankful to fellow trustees and volunteers who have helped maintain the green over the last 23 years. In the early days this was the Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Frome Recreation and Open Ground Supporters (FROGS), Sustainable Frome’s Apple Group and more recently Critchill School and Frome Town Council.

“But we really could not have managed without those individuals who answered the call when a cry for help was put out. Between us all we have planted, pruned, lopped, scythed, raked and litter picked. But the Millennium Green easily reverts to ‘wild’ and maintaining the footpaths and undergrowth became a time-consuming activity, which is when Frome Town Council came to the rescue. It is sensible that they now become sole Trustees of Frome Millennium Green and with their resources and skills maintain it as part of the special green corridor at the very heart of our town.”

Sue has recently curated an exhibition detailing the hard work and dedication put in to creating and maintaining the Green, this is on display at the Town Hall. All are welcome to visit the exhibition which will be on display over the summer. The Town Hall is open Monday – Thursday 9am to 5pm and to 4:30pm on a Friday.