Herald - Issue 425

v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 14TH JULY v 23rd June 2022 • The HERALD • Page 61 New Bridge Marks Garden’s Centenary Year A new footbridge has been opened in a popular New Forest garden to mark its centenary year. The timber-framed bridge takes visitors along a path through a newly- sown wild ower meadow in Furzey Gardens in Minstead. Over 70 people gathered for the ribbon cutting, speeches and refreshments on 11th May to enjoy a rst stroll through the meadow and over the bridge. It has been designed and constructed by engineering rm Ramboll along with people with learning disabilities and gardeners at Furzey Gardens. Ramboll supported the project through funding from the Ramboll Foundation and giving their sta time and support to get involved with the design and construction. As well as marking the garden’s centenary, the bridge also commemorates the innovative engineering pioneered by Dr Edwin Gi ord OBE and the company he founded nearby in 1951. Gi ord is a pioneering engineering company that is now part of the Ramboll Group. Furzey Gardens is a public garden in the heart of the New Forest and supports people with learning disabilities to maintain the grounds and raise plants in the nursery. e gardens are owned by Minstead Trust, a charity that supports more than 220 people with learning disabilities across Hampshire. Paul Brown, Associate at Ramboll: “ We were very excited to be approached by Minstead Trust to support them in the design and construction of their new footbridge. Immediately we saw the project aligned with our values to promote sustainable and innovative development for the benefit of nature, society and people. Our staff have been volunteering at Furzey Gardens for several years and have built sheds, playground equipment and now the bridge. The volunteering days bring our staff together in a new environment with countless benefits for team working, health and well being. This year we leave our office in Netley Marsh to move into Southampton City Centre. Landmark projects around the world have been designed from our office so this bridge was an opportunity to leave a small legacy in the area where we have been based for over 50 years.” Adam Dodd, Minstead Trust Chief Executive, said: “The new bridge is a beautiful addition to Furzey Gardens, and we’re enormously grateful to Ramboll and the Gifford family for their wholehearted and fulsome support for this project. It is a touching and tasteful celebration of Gifford’s contribution to the local area over the last 50 years, and all the more heartwarming as 50 years from now, some of the people we support who collaborated on its construction will be able to return to the gardens and say ‘I made this’.” 2022 is Furzey Gardens’ centenary year and it is telling the pioneering story of the gardens – from the intrepid plant hunters who lled the gardens with rare species to its more modern history as a place of support and education for people with learning disabilities. e gardens are running a ‘Special Years’ fundraising campaign to raise £500,000. Lovers of Furzey Gardens can donate to the appeal, take part in the ra e or sponsor one of 100 centenary oaks being planted in autumn. To nd out more about Furzey Garden’s centenary events and fundraising appeal visit: www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/ furzey-centenary Cutting the ribbon to open the Furzey Gardens Centenary Bridge. Left to right: Lucy Chadwick, Head of Major Crossings UK at Ramboll; John Gifford (son of Edwin Giffoird OBE); Tim Selwood, Founder of Minstead Trust; Lander Iglesias (Bridge Design Engineer, Ramboll), Adam Dodd, Chief Executive at Minstead Trust; Victor Li (Bridge Design Engineer, Ramboll); Dan, supported trainee at Furzey Gardens; Paul Brown, Bridges Associate at Ramboll; Pete White, Head Gardener at Furzey Gardens. (Absent: Lottie Bilson (Bridge Design Engineer, Ramboll) Waterside Walking for Health TABLE TOP SALE IN TOTTON ree Score Club in Totton is holding a Table Top Sale on Saturday 16th July 10am to 12noon. You can book a table now for £5. Admission is 30p per person and free for children. Refreshments will be available at a reasonable price. To book a table please contact ree Score Club on: 023 8086 5355 or email: secretary@ threescoreclub.org You are very welcome to go along and join in any of their walks: Thursday 30th June , 3pm, Matley for a 2.6 mile walk; Monday 4th July, 10am, Dibden Inclosure for a 2.7 mile walk; Thursday 14th July, 3pm, Parc Pale for a 2.7 mile walk. Contact Mike Roberts on 023 8084 7461 or 07811 361319 for more information about the Waterside Walking for Health group.