North Walsham Teacher’s ‘Guerrilla Gardening’ Brightening Up The Town

Newly-planted gardens have been appearing North Walsham, after a spell of ‘guerrilla gardening’ undertaken by a member of staff at North Walsham High School.

With the help of local businesses, Simon Weal has created a number of new gardens at the school, as well as one in the centre of the town, opposite the library.

Mr Weal enlisted the support of North Walsham Garden Centre, Spring Floral Designs and North Walsham in Bloom, all of which contributed plants, materials, advice and practical help, to enable him to create little the new gardens.

I love gardening, and as I don’t have a garden of my own, I thought I would give my time to creating patches which everybody could enjoy, both at the school and in the town,” said Mr Weal. 

“I believe that if you start to transform patches of ground into something more attractive, everybody feels better about their surroundings, and people are less likely to behave anti-socially.”

Ben Youngs of North Walsham Garden Centre, which donated plants and shrubs, agreed that pride in surroundings was important.  “We need to get young people interested in plants and encourage the younger generation to take a pride in the town.  Helping Simon transform these patches of land was an easy decision for us to make.”

Marion Lane from North Walsham in Bloom added, “Simon is so enthusiastic – he never stops, he is doing something for the community all the time.  I first met him in the park when he was out litter-picking, and it has been a pleasure to help his efforts both practically with plants and a water container, and by giving advice as needed.”

Mr Weal’s new gardens have been planted in various locations on the school grounds, as well as on a patch of land off New Road, opposite the library.