The cottage garden was created over 30 years ago by Albert Skerman, a former tenant of the adjoining cottage (now privately owned), who worked as a gardener in several local houses. The planting scheme reflects Albert's tendency to "borrow" specimens from his employers and was a classic example of a traditional Ashwell cottage garden. The garden is now owned by the applicant trust who maintain it as a public amenity.

This project is restoring the cottage garden and is improving some aspects of it including better accessibility for wheelchair users and seating. At the same time the project is conserving, as far as possible, the original planting and design, which, with its strong local origins, is a living example of a land-use style that was once the norm in Ashwell.

The group is also erecting a notice board, welcoming visitors to the garden and telling the story of its local origins.

A further aim of the ongoing work is to make the garden easier to manage as the group's commitment for the future includes continuing volunteer maintenance work.