AN ANCIENT working watermill has recruited the help of horticultural students to help with a new ambitious garden plan.

Work has begun at Winchester City Mill for an island garden project designed by horticulture students from Sparsholt College Group.

Two large trees were cleared at the end of October to make space for the new vision of an inner-city oasis and the National Trust team is set to start planting this winter.

The project, funded by £25,000 in donations from sponsors and visitors, is hoped to be completed by summer 2023. During this time the tourist attraction, based in Bridge Street, intends to keep everything open as much as possible.

Hampshire Chronicle: The garden before the project startedThe garden before the project started (Image: Phil Ripley)

The National Trust’s regional visitor operations and experiences manager, Kaela Saunders-Hall, said: “We want to create a bit of an oasis within the heart of the city for people to enjoy alongside the Itchen River.

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“The National Trust garden team has a good relationship with Sparsholt College and the project has been an extension of that. The work students do at Hinton Ampner is usually pre-set but here they get to help design too.

“In pairs, the students came up with their own design to be pitched to the head gardener John Wood. It’s good to get that real-life experience and it gives them insight into working with a client and getting feedback.”

The tropical design aims to utilise the microenvironment alongside the river to grow more exotic plants. Minor changes need to be made to make the students’ ideas achievable such as the type of sculptures and flowers.

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With the café opening at Winchester City Mill in December 2019, it’s hoped the development will provide a space for visitors to enjoy their refreshments and relax.

Kaela added: “It’s currently a passing-through space but with the refurbishment, the team hopes it will become an away-from-home space in the middle of the city.”

The National Trust venue is a surviving example of an urban working corn mill in, restored to full working order in 2004.

To keep updated with the project carried out by staff, volunteers and Sparsholt students go to the Winchester City Mill Facebook page at facebook.com/WinchesterCityMillNT.