Watford Borough Council have unveiled their plans to improve St Mary’s Churchyard, with work set to begin early next year in 2025.
This ambitious scheme aims to transform the churchyard into a vibrant, family-friendly green space that will enhance the town centre experience and provide a more welcoming environment for all visitors.
The project, driven by community feedback and a desire to rejuvenate the area, seeks to create a multifunctional space that encourages more diverse usage. By improving the attractiveness of the area and making it more inviting from the High Street, the initiative also aims to increase footfall, reduce anti-social behaviour, and boost the overall energy of the town centre.
Key features of the final design include:
- Enhanced look and feel: New rubber and resin-bound surfacing on the upper level, improved tegular paving, updated bollards and bins, and refreshed High Street entrance features.
- Increased biodiversity and greenery: Soft landscaping will introduce wild flowering and contribute to biodiversity net gain, with birdhouses and bee/bug hotels also enriching local wildlife. There will also be a new greening element at the High Street entrance and raised planters with integral seating.
- New facilities: Introduction of informal play spaces and equipment scattered throughout the area. A new pathway at the rear of the open space will connect to the main pathway around the church, enhancing accessibility and flow.
- Reflection space: A dedicated area for contemplation and reflection, designed to offer a peaceful retreat within the bustling town centre.
The council engaged local architectural design students from West Herts College to contribute their vision of what the open space could include. A competition led by the Elected Mayor of Watford in January 2024 showcased innovative ideas from the students and select concepts have been integrated into the final design.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “When I was elected, I committed to even more investment to improve our open spaces, and we are continuing to make improvements. Our goal is to transform St Mary’s Churchyard and create a place where visitors can enjoy informal play, increased biodiversity, and peaceful reflection.
“We’re excited to start the construction and look forward to unveiling this revitalised space next year, offering a new, engaging area for the whole community to enjoy.”
Work on the site will commence in January 2025, with the newly improved open space set to officially open to the public in June 2025.
