Volunteers who have spent the last five years maintaining Faversham’s only public garden are saddened their hard work will be concreted over.

The Faversham News revealed plans last week for a £120,000 revamp of the memorial garden in Stone Street, with a new parade ground for Remembrance Day and stone plaques to commemorate the fallen of the two world wars.

But not everyone is happy with the proposals.

Brian Head, Ros Young, and Dot Percival are among a team of dedicated gardeners who live in Stone Street and spend every Sunday morning devoted to the garden.

Their voluntary efforts have transformed a once-neglected, dark space to a vibrant spot with new trees, flowers and plants, as well as an array of edible plants – passersby often stop, chat to the volunteers and pick up a punnet of raspberries or blackcurrants.

Although the new plans include shrubs and a number of trees, many of the plots will be pulled up for the parade ground.

The group believes more of the garden should be saved.

Garden designer Mrs Young said: “While we fully support the need for a memorial to the fallen, and completely understand why we could re-think its current location, unfortunately, the space in Stone Street is just too small to accommodate a parade ground and a garden.

“I have been working with other local residents in the garden for a number of years. We took on an unloved space and created a garden which we have been very proud of.

“At the moment the garden is a charming sanctuary for local residents, patients, staff, visitors and wildlife." - Alexandra Campbell

“The destruction of this vibrant community garden, to be replaced by a parade ground, and names of the fallen, is, in my view, not only an unnecessary waste of money, but a real loss to the town of one of the only beautiful public spaces we have.”

Many of the plants have been donated by Faversham residents and there is a donation box hanging on the gate to collect funds for new bulbs, seeds and to maintain the lawn.

The team have also constructed compost bins and water butts.

The gardeners hoped to replant their lavender and would like to start a herb bed, but say they lost their enthusiasm and momentum when the plans were revealed.

They believe that Market Place may be a better location for the parade ground so that there would be no need for road closures, ample room for spectators and the money could be spent on something such as the Cottage Hospital or supporting veterans.

An exhibition will welcome comments from the public at the library in Newton Road from Monday to Saturday, November 9-14.

Cllr Mike Cosgrove ,who is leading the memorial committee, did not want to comment until after the consultation.

Faversham resident and writer of Middlesized Garden, a popular horticultural blog, Alexandra Iron, said: “I’m aware of the major issues affecting town gardens today and I’m concerned that the new plans for the memorial garden don’t address them.

“At the moment the garden is a charming sanctuary for local residents, patients, staff, visitors and wildlife. It is gardening communally, creating more of the glue that keeps a society together.

“But in the new plan there appears to be only a small mention of plants and flowers. Otherwise it appears to be mainly hard landscaping, small trees and two patches of lawn.

“The Royal Horticultural Society is campaigning to reduce hard landscaping in small town gardens – hard surfaces attract graffiti and there is an air quality issue.”