Clarance House Conservation Garden – Our aim: to maintain Clarance House Conservation Garden in line with the decisions of Thaxted Parish Council as an amenity for the town and as an urban semi-wild space, encouraging indigenous flora and fauna in a controlled way. Clarance House was once a private house but was acquired by Essex County Council in the mid 20th century for use as a residential adult education centre. It had a private garden and also a kitchen garden, separated by a narrow lane fromthe main property. When the kitchen garden was no longer of use to ECC, and had fallen into disuse and abandon, it was sold to Thaxted Parish Council (for £1).
Volunteers have revived the gardens as a Conservation Garden, planting fruit trees, establishing a pond, shrubs and a meadow area to encourage wildlife, whilst maintaining a more formal lawn and borders near the entrance. The gardens are now open at weekends and Bank Holidays (during BST). The Parish Council lets them out to hirers for various community events (e.g. supporting Thaxted Festival). Fruit can be picked in season and donations are collected.
