Fordham 2000 Memorial Garden

The Fordham 2000 Memorial Garden sits just outside Ely - a quiet pocket of reflection that marks the millennium in proper fashion. It's not vast, but that's rather the point. You'll find neat paths threading through plantings that have matured well over the past couple of decades, with benches positioned to catch the light at different times of day.

What makes it work is the intention behind it. This was a community project, planned and planted to mark the year 2000, and you can feel that civic pride in the layout. The garden doesn't shout for attention; it's content to be a place where locals bring their dogs, where people sit with a flask on a Wednesday morning, where the seasons actually matter because you're watching the same beds change year on year.

It's ideal if you're staying at Trelander Camping & Caravanning nearby and fancy a gentle walk rather than a full day out. Won't keep you occupied for hours - thirty minutes is honest going - but it's the sort of spot that rewards a slow amble. Particularly nice in spring when things are pushing through, or in autumn when the light does something clever through the trees.

Free, as these things tend to be. No facilities that I could find, so plan accordingly. Close enough to Ely's cathedral and riverside walks to combine with a proper day exploring the town without feeling like a detour.