TL1653 : Within Tempsford Millennium Garden Sanctuary
taken 10 years ago, near to Church End, Central Bedfordshire, England
Within Tempsford Millennium Garden Sanctuary
This area of woodland was restored, paths laid and seats installed, as a community based millennium project. The gardens opened in December 2000. Garden entrance and more information: TL1653 : Entrance to Tempsford Millennium Garden Sanctuary.
The historic village of Tempsford stands on the A1, Great North Road, and indeed, has for ever been bisected by this road, with Church End to the west and Station Road to the east.
In 1962, the A1 was rebuilt as a dual carriageway, and realigned so as to leave both parts of the village as peaceful backwaters, though each had T-junction road access onto the busy A1. A footbridge over the A1 was later provided, making a safe a crossing place for pedestrians.
In the late 1990s, a new road scheme was created, closing the dangerous T-junctions and providing slip roads running parallel to the main road to provide safer vehicle access to the two halves of the village and to a couple of other local roads.
It is something of a challenge for anyone unfamiliar with the modern road layout to navigate by car from one part of the village to the other, especially as the signposting is not especially helpful.