Belfield and Rothwell Community Garden. Belfield and Rothwell Community Garden Project

Transcription

1 Belfield and Rothwell Community Garden Project 1

2 Introduction Belfield/Rothwell Project was born from a group of local residents called Incredible Edibles Accrington. At a meeting on 4th May 2010, twelve people met and highlighted the ground in between Belfield and Rothwell Avenue as ground that they would like to use as a community garden. At that meeting it was decided to canvas the local community to see if this was an idea that local residents would like to get involved in. The local community have been very supportive along with Hyndburn Homes who agreed for us to use the land. 2

3 Aims of the garden A group of local residents created the garden the aim of the Garden is to Provide children with the opportunity to learn the basic skills for growing and preparing sustainable food Educate the whole family on food growing Involve Lancashire County Council in free food growing classes for all Reduce the carbon footprint from producer to consumer Encourage a healthier lifestyle Create a space for people to recover and recuperate form illness Create educational events about environmental issues Create a wildlife area and plant edible trees and demonstrate its importance in growing food i.e. flowers, bees and the pollination of trees Create a community spirit Host seed and plant swapping events Host tasting sessions and a host of other interesting fun events 3

4 Historical events Anne Hourican Senior Environmental Initiatives Officer Hyndburn Borough Council, Planning Services kindly made an initial contact with Nigel Fenton and Dave Perry (and also Chris Taylor from HBC Housing) regarding the use of the above land for local residents for growing their own food. We are really pleased that Hyndburn Homes have been supportive of the idea. Two of the local residents that have never grown food before went on a food growing course organised by Ian Hodgson (Community Food Growing Co-ordinator based with Prospects Foundation) giving the local community transferable skills. The Soil on site was tested and the ph was in well acceptable levels for growing vegetables. Prospect commissioned Bootstrap on the projects behalf to create three test winter beds In October These beds thrived over winter with the winter harvest in place and no vandalism. These beds had winter vegetables and a nursery flower bed. 4

5 Winter 2010 Over the winter period Various funding bids were submitted and we raised some money to continue the project. Organised a Sponsored Dig Started a Pond and Bog Garden Our first vegetable bed was rotivated with the help of Prospects foundation Bog Garden and Pond We realised that there was two natural water sources which we were causing a flooding problem. We took the decision to create two water features to utilise this flooding. So in January 2011 we started two create two ponds. February Sponsored Dig We hosted a sponsored Dig on site to launch the Garden on the 12th February. Prospects Foundation lent some tools and 24 people came, which included Local Scouts This enabled us to get a really good start to the garden activities that took place were. Finished creating two Ponds with waterfall Dug our first Vegetable patch and fruit bed Planted 13 Fruit trees Local Ranger put up 4 next boxes and did a talk on birds and bird Boxes 5

6 Other February Jobs We started a bird feeding station and Geoffrey a local boy with his mums help manage the bird feeding station. Composting areas were started so that we can make our own compost for next year Saturday Gardening Club This started on 12 th February with the Sponsored dig being its launch. Saturday morning club is where local residents who want to garden meet at for two hours. It is for learning to garden and sharing your knowledge of gardening top the local community. Local Children have been attending on a regular basis along with adults. 6

7 March Activities In March we created our entrance bed so that we could use permaculture as our basis for the garden. We found raspberries and Blackberries already growing on the land so we created a fruit bed around the raspberries and tidied up the blackberries in order to produce the best crop later on in the year. To the fruit bed be planted various other fruits such as strawberries, redcurrant, blue berry, gooseberry and cranberry 7

8 March/April activities Along came the poly tunnel which was a kind donation from John the Barber on Nuttall Street. Local residents all helped to erect the poly tunnel. Seeds and more seeds were sown in the Poly tunnel and seedlings relocated from local resident s houses were they had been grown on window sills. Prospects supported purchasing tools and compost for the project Vegetables planted in our first vegetable bed outside, Peas and Beans A local resident made us a hedgehog nesting box A local resident made mushroom logs which have been donated by the council s tree warden. Insect box was placed for bumble bees and insects to nest later in the year. We also received funding to plant up the bog garden and pond so enjoyed planting these two areas up. A local resident bought us some horse manure which was delivered to the site and local residents helped to bring the manure into the garden. 8

9 Police An on-going police initiative to bring some local youths on to the garden helped with planting Potatoes. Hyndburn Homes arranged youth offending team to paint the fences as part of community service Loads of weeding and tidying and more planting. We successfully received money for a shed which was erected by local residents May 2011 The garden grew the parts we haven t tackled yet became overgrown which were strimmed 5 more fruit trees were planted courtesy of Hyndburn Homes Hyndburn homes invested in water butts and guttering system for our new shed Weeding completed More plants planted and poly tunnel brimming with plants Entrance walkway was weeded, de- mossed and brushed so it looks tidy More seeds sown Bark shipping put round the plants in the pond garden 9

10 Future Plans A good harvest Saturday Lunch Club The idea is after we have garden to cook with the produce that we have harvested. Saturday Morning Club To continue BBQ 23 rd July supported by John the Barber Gardening courses - Run from our polytunnel 10