48th AMXS volunteers help rescue Forgotten Garden

  • Published
  • By Suzanne Harper
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  While many Airmen from the Liberty Wing enjoyed an extra day off with their families recently, volunteers from the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron exchanged wire cutters for spades and got their hands dirty in the soil rather than aircraft engines.

The Forgotten Garden in Thetford lay abandoned and overgrown for 30 years until 2001 when a local community group took over and turned it into a wildlife garden.

Hazel Neal, a Ministry of Defence employee working for the 48th AMXS, became aware volunteer muscle was needed when she spoke to local community volunteers in Thetford.

"They told me that they always have projects that they are working," said Mrs. Neal. "They had a bench that needed to be fixed into the ground in The Forgotten Garden. The squadron has been very good at volunteering for my crazy projects in the past, and this time was no different!"

The volunteers installed a new bench in the garden and paved around it. In addition, they prepared the ground for an official tree planting which will take place later in the year when Thetford celebrates the life of Thomas Paine, arguably Thetford's most famous citizen, on the 200th anniversary of his death.

Theresa Mason, who helps maintain the Forgotten Garden, praised the Airmen and other volunteers.

"They were such a fabulous group," she said. "They were so much fun and showed so much interest in what we were doing. We told them what we needed, and they didn't hesitate. Not only that, but they cleared everything up and left the place spotless. I keep going back and sitting on the bench they put in, because it was such a great day. It would have taken our little band of helpers the rest of the year to get done what they did in a single day."

Carrie Titus, wife of Tech. Sgt. Joseph Titus, 48th AMXS, and Mrs. Neal's daughters, Rosie and Alice Neal, also helped with the projects. Everyone was treated to a demonstration of apple pressing, and  got to taste different apples from the orchard, as well as homemade cakes and scones provided by local helpers.

**The Forgotten Garden is located in the grounds of Ford Place near the River Thet and Nun's Bridges it is open to the public Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

**There is a special event at the garden for anyone interested in apple pressing Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon.

**If you are interested in other volunteer opportunities within the local community, contact Maggie Clowes, community relations adviser, at 226-3145 or email 48fw.cra@lakenheath.af.mil