WANDER past the wrought-iron gate and you wouldn’t give it a second glance.

But behind it lies a little-known green space that was once a churchyard, tucked away behind houses in Mill Road and Churchfields Road.

It’s a wildlife haven that’s taking on a new role as a community resource and general source of inspiration.

Called The Secret Garden, it’s the brainchild of Becky Twigg, from Bishopstone. Becky is the organic gardener behind Facebook group The Bees’ Knees UK.

With 2,500 members, ranging from experts such as Salisbury bee scientist Stuart Roberts to fair-weather gardeners like me, it’s a treasure trove of information, advice and glorious photos.

Becky gathered her first volunteers on Saturday to begin clearing paths and gravestones, creating log seating and stacking twigs to house bugs.

The end product won’t be everyone’s idea of a garden. No flower beds or lawns, just a few areas planted up with bee-friendly foxgloves and other native wild flowers, and some roses scrambling up the many large trees that cast a lovely dappled shade.

There’ll be an archaeological survey, and much of the ground won’t be disturbed. “I’m really aware of the sensitivity of the site,” says Becky.

“It’ll be devoted to quiet activities such as watching bugs and birds.

“Writing groups and artists are interested in coming here. We’re going to research the histories of the people laid to rest here, and there will be information about them.

“I’m hoping to get schools to sponsor bee and bug boxes. I’m keen to involve older people’s groups, too.”

Initially, she is “just going to let everything grow to see what’s in here”, working with botanists to record it all with Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre. Her philosophy: “It’s not my space with wildlife in it, it’s a wildlife space and I am in it.”

The site is owned by the church but has been maintained by the city council, and it was councillor Margaret Willmot who suggested it as the ideal home for Becky’s project. Everything used here will be upcycled or recycled, and Becky is appealing for wheelbarrows, tools, and a shed to convert to a bird hide.

“You don’t have to spend money to be wildlife-friendly,” she points out. “You can pin an old boot into a tree and get wrens nesting in it.”

Initially Becky will open the garden to the public on Saturdays. “I hope it will encourage people to look at their own garden spaces in a slightly different way,” she says. I love it.

n Meet Becky at the free Salisbury Transition City event in the Guildhall this Saturday afternoon.

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