Monks Eleigh is a small parish village in Suffolk within the
District of Babergh. It can be found at the point where the A1141
Lavenham to Hadleigh road meets the B1115 Sudbury to
Stowmarket.
The village enjoys a prime rural aspect in the
heart of Suffolk and is surrounded by open countryside. It is close
to the old wool and cloth towns of Lavenham and Long Melford and
picturesque villages such as Chelsworth and Kersey. Also within
easy reach are the market towns of Hadleigh, Stowmarket and
Sudbury. The main towns of Bury St Edmunds, Colchester and Ipswich
are no more than a 30 minute drive away. Monks Eleigh is a small
friendly village where you will find a Community Shop and Post
Office, Church, Village School, Pub/Restaurant, Craft and Tea Shop,
Playing Field and Millennium Green.
MONKS ELEIGH MILLENNIUM GREEN
The Monks Eleigh Millennium Green is an area of
0.57 ha. situated in the village’s conservation area. It is central
within Monks Eleigh Parish and only a short walk from the Church
and the Primary School. The site was originally used by the village
as allotments but since 1990 it had become derelict and
overgrown.
The Monks Eleigh Millennium Green Trust was
inaugurated in 1999 and the land was bought with help from The
Countryside Agency, various local corporate donors and
organisations, and personal donations. Many people in the area also
donated money towards benches, tables, trees, bulbs and plants.
Working parties were organised and volunteers put in a huge amount
of time and effort to clear the site, clean out the ditches, plant
trees, hedges and grass seed.
The Green was officially opened on 14th October
2000. Since then all the plants, trees, shrubs, hedges etc. have
flourished, providing a haven for wildlife and an excellent amenity
for the village. The birds and mammals are regularly monitored, and
the area is frequently used by the School, the Youth Club – and the
village generally. The most recent event was a Kite Flying Day on
Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd May, which was very successful and very
enjoyable.
Monks Eleigh now has it’s ‘Breathing Space’ and
is very proud of it.