In October 2025, Stondon Parish Council carried out a community consultation to seek residents’ views on the future management of the Poppy Fields Community Garden. The purpose of the consultation was to invite the community to help inform a decision about how the space should be managed going forward.
As part of the consultation, the Poppy Fields Wild Garden Volunteer Team set out a proposal for the garden to be managed as a re-wilded space. This approach focuses on encouraging biodiversity, supporting wildlife and insects, and maintaining the area with minimal intervention and community-led hand maintenance.
A total of 92 responses were received during the consultation period. The outcomes were as follows:
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71.6% supported a natural re-wilded garden, encouraging biodiversity with minimal intervention
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5% supported a cultivated, professionally maintained garden, with regular mowing, planting and a more manicured appearance
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21.6% supported a hybrid approach, with some areas managed naturally and others kept more tidy and cultivated
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1.6% indicated they were unsure and required more information
The Parish Council has reviewed the consultation results and noted that a clear majority of respondents expressed support for a natural, re-wilded approach to the space.
Based on the outcome of the consultation, Stondon Parish Council will work with the Poppy Fields Wild Garden Volunteer Team to support this vision, while continuing to retain overall responsibility for the Poppy Fields Community Garden.
Further updates will be provided as arrangements progress.