A large greenhouse that has been hidden from view for over a decade has now resurfaced, thanks to a rescue operation by staff from two local organisations.

The greenhouse, which was once part of a thriving kitchen garden tended by the monks of Prinknash Abbey near Painswick, fell out of use in recent years, becoming overgrown and derelict along with the rest of the garden.

Stroud Valleys Project (SVP) has been managing the monastery’s walled garden since 2018.

When St. James’s Place approached the charity with a desire to help, the SVP team had just the job in mind.

“Our volunteers and our project officer, Katherine Hallewell, have done amazing work at the site, with the support of the monastery’s staff”, said Caroline Pankhurst, SVP’s project officer for the site.

“However, there was this huge mass of weeds and bramble, under which we knew was this very large old greenhouse. We wanted to rescue it, but it’s such a daunting job, we never had the time until the St. James’s Place crew approached us looking for a challenge!”

Headed up by Jessica Taylor, the team from St. James’s Place got stuck into the demanding work. Jessica Taylor said: “Although the weather wasn’t exactly on our side, Caroline and Kerri ensured we all had a great day and lots of fun! We’re really happy with the impact we made rescuing one of the historic greenhouses within the grounds.”

“We’d like to thank the Stroud Valleys Project team for such a great day supporting Prinknash Abbey Walled Garden.”

The team arrived on site and worked relentlessly through the day, clearing the weeds, cutting back brambles, and pulling away debris.

“We now have a usable greenhouse, thanks to St. James’s Place,” says Caroline. “The next challenge is finding funding to repair the glass... and then deciding what to grow in it!”.

The kitchen garden is known to have been built sometime after 1775, and in the centuries that followed, other elements have been added. These include an 18m-long peach house, a cucumber and melon house, and a pottery built by the son of eccentric illustrator Heath Robinson, Alan, who was a monk at Prinknash.

To find out more about corporate volunteering with Stroud Valleys Project or to find out how your organisation can support their work across the district, visit their website at stroudvalleysproject.org or call 01453 753358.