Flourishing Forth 2017

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Darcy Banks
5 years ago
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1 Flourishing Forth 2017

Introduction Forth, our village is situated near Lanark on the A706 and stands approximately 1,000 feet above sea level.

More recently it has become a centre for a number of wind farms including Blacklaw and Tormywheel The Wind farm combined with other local and national

Renewable Energy Fund, others by direct contribution.

renewed sense of community and is linked to the aims of Flourishing Forth.

the inhabitants, voluntary organisations, and local authorities in common effort to advance education, through promoting and organising activities, both

2 Introduction Forth, our village is situated near Lanark on the A706 and stands approximately 1,000 feet above sea level. Our village has a history of heavy industry including steelworks, deep mining, opencast and quarrying. More recently it has become a centre for a number of wind farms including Blacklaw and Tormywheel The Wind farm combined with other local and national funds has brought many benefits to the local community to support projects and initiatives, some through application to the South Lanarkshire Council Renewable Energy Fund, others by direct contribution. In addition Levenseat Trust part of Levenseat ltd has been of great support to the village This financial support for local groups has helped encourage a renewed sense of community and is linked to the aims of Flourishing Forth. These are; To benefit the inhabitants and its environs, without distinction of political, religious, or other opinions; to bring together in association the inhabitants, voluntary organisations, and local authorities in common effort to advance education, through promoting and organising activities, both social and educational, which will advance the quality of life of the community; and to provide, in the interests of social welfare, facilities for communal activities and pursuits including recreation, sport, entertainment, education, hobbies, and festivities. The willingness to revive cultural and social life in the village brings hope that these actions will go a long way to restoring Forth to its former prosperity. Page 2

Horticultural achievement The year has seen the Eco site develop and grow to become an important part of community life in Forth.

and tend to barrel street planters and hanging baskets. Create an activity green space in the Wanderers Wood Have the local play park at the entrance to the Poly Tunnel re instated.

Group o The CCI Group o The Bowling Club Group Build the poly tunnel site up to the level of all raised beds being used by local people for flowers and vegetables.

carrots, turnip and beetroot. Negotiated an annual funding allowance from Tormyhill Wind Farm who are kindly providing us with 3,500 PA for the next 25 years, Flowers and baskets!

3 Horticultural achievement The year has seen the Eco site develop and grow to become an important part of community life in Forth. The output from the site has enabled us to This year we have managed to: Provide 183 vegetable boxes for distribution to our older residents Grow the flowers, fill, plant, put out and tend to barrel street planters and hanging baskets. Create an activity green space in the Wanderers Wood Have the local play park at the entrance to the Poly Tunnel re instated. Expand the number of groups using the site, this now includes o The Wombles o The Craft Group o The Basket and Tub Group o The Kids Club o The School nursery Group o The Haven Group o The CCI Group o The Bowling Club Group Build the poly tunnel site up to the level of all raised beds being used by local people for flowers and vegetables. Kids play area Seed sowing, pricking out and potting on various plants Built and planted a poly tunnel orchard, Prepared ground and planted a range of winter root crops including carrots, turnip and beetroot. Negotiated an annual funding allowance from Tormyhill Wind Farm who are kindly providing us with 3,500 PA for the next 25 years, Flowers and baskets! Our New Orchard! The kids Club Flower Jars Preparing the barrels for the Main Street We have also carried out maintenance work on community garden areas around the village and worked with other groups to ensure the site is as well used as possible, Page 3

Environmental responsibility Our Eco site has been designed to provide us with most of what we need and

The raptors from a local refuge were on display For power we now have a double solar array that

Our improved rainwater collections system has allowed us to support all the raised beds The additional

Built recycled picnic benches and planters from donated wood Created a raised bed planter for the

greater power storage and controlled usage Plant natural bordering to grow on site fencing to soften

site Held a series of open days with displays and exhibition skills to encourage use of fresh produce.

4 Environmental responsibility Our Eco site has been designed to provide us with most of what we need and the user groups have endeavoured to recycle as much as possible. Open Day October The raptors from a local refuge were on display For power we now have a double solar array that provides us with all our current needs including heating some raised beds for 12 months growing season. Our improved rainwater collections system has allowed us to support all the raised beds The additional environmental works this year include. Built recycled picnic benches and planters from donated wood Created a raised bed planter for the residents of Climpy Road Replaced the inverter on the solar panels with a more effective model allowing greater power storage and controlled usage Plant natural bordering to grow on site fencing to soften view for local residents Developed the number of groups using the site Given out all raised beds on site Held a series of open days with displays and exhibition skills to encourage use of fresh produce. Developed a new link with South Lanarkshire College, Horticulture Department who are going to provide us with a series of training sessions on how best to use raised beds. Everyone enjoying the day! Page 4

Community engagement In June last year the Initiative Group applied for and was successful in becoming part of the Coalfields Community Futures Programme this involved other Community Groups and

This has now resulted in the completion of a community wide consultation and development of a village plan to be used as a guide to where our community wants to develop over the next few years.

We have worked this year with Greenspace Scotland as one of three communities in Scotland to take part of their Tackling litter and building communities through re-purposing greenspaces project.

5 Community engagement In June last year the Initiative Group applied for and was successful in becoming part of the Coalfields Community Futures Programme this involved other Community Groups and together we formed a Steering Group. This has now resulted in the completion of a community wide consultation and development of a village plan to be used as a guide to where our community wants to develop over the next few years. The Forth Development Trust is now a constituted group and has been sitting for almost 12 months. Most groups are either represented or receive copy of all minutes. We have worked this year with Greenspace Scotland as one of three communities in Scotland to take part of their Tackling litter and building communities through re-purposing greenspaces project. We have developed a community action plan to tackle litter and fly tipping, supporting the local environmental quality We are now in our third year of developing our poly tunnel site development and it is going well. The number of users last year was over 4,300. Using 28 raised beds on a regular basis, some as individuals others used by groups. We now have a number of community groups regularly on site including o The Wombles o The Craft Group o The Basket and Tub Group o The Kids Club o The School nursery Group o The Haven Group o The CCI Group o The Bowling Club Group Some of our amazing volunteers! Some of our amazing Produce! They are all involved in differing community activities which include; Research on woodland and outdoor learning activities and best practice. Consultation meetings with Jen regarding outdoor woodland learning group using a piece of land adjacent to the Forth Page 5

Wanderers Football park Dementia Awareness training for volunteers Community leadership skills training Attended Growing Well Together event in

massages and breathing exercises with the woman from The Haven and CRN women.

Agreed with SLC a program of 12 month planting to keep flower barrels on street all year Delivering XX fresh vegetable baskets to local residents.

This includes projects such as building raised beds inside the poly-tunnel meaning it would only be material costs to get this job done.

Some Herb vinegars made by the children s groups. Great for cooking Great work Robert!

6 Wanderers Football park Dementia Awareness training for volunteers Community leadership skills training Attended Growing Well Together event in Glasgow Attending South Lanarkshire College Horticultural sessions Craft Workshop sessions Delivered relaxation workshop making bath-bombs, hand massages and breathing exercises with the woman from The Haven and CRN women. Group activity making seed paper for sowing by recycling old newspaper and left over seeds. Agreed with SLC a program of 12 month planting to keep flower barrels on street all year Delivering XX fresh vegetable baskets to local residents. A volunteer men's group called The Wombles is also now working on the Eco Site providing maintenance and repair support for the Eco Site. This includes projects such as building raised beds inside the poly-tunnel meaning it would only be material costs to get this job done. Some of the wonderful produce made at the Craft sessions, held at Forth Eco Site. They made some hanging leaf displays. Well done all. Some Herb vinegars made by the children s groups. Great for cooking Great work Robert! Thank you for volunteering to help paint the raised beds Their projects to date are; The building of the extension to the rainwater gathering to include all buildings on site The orchard in the potting poly tunnel The new raised beds in the new poly tunnel The sprinkler system for the poly tunnel raised beds Grounds maintenance and repair works Bed watering Page 6

7 Volunteers making the Climpy Road Beds Making the hazel hurdle Page 7

8 Eco Site Year 3 Statistics Outcomes agreed with Big Lottery and our performance to date- 1. The use of the site by the community at 300 visits per month, 80% raised bed s used, open full time learning sessions, 1 community liaison officer, 3 recycling initiatives fresh vegetable boxes delivered to local pensioners by project end, 250 attendees at conservation sessions Item Period Indicators Mar/May Actual Outcome 1 Footfall/ Per users month Volunteering Hours Raised bed allocation Site open Outcome 2 Development worker Group learning Sessions Recycling initiatives June/Aug Actual Sep/Nov Actual Dec/Feb Actual % in use 80% 100% 100% 100% 100% Per month project Per annum 12 months per annum 1 per annum 12 per annum (Composting) 0 1 (Barrel repairs) Outcome 3 Fresh veg. delivered Conservation information sessions Baskets/ boxes attendees Page 8

Plans for the Future The priorities of our village development plan are as follows and we will be supporting the themes In the following ways; Themes Annual Community Events Action to reduce dog

Developing a local Community Development Trust Make the most of our community facilities Improve skills development for local people to assist them back to work Develop activities and facilities for

9 Plans for the Future The priorities of our village development plan are as follows and we will be supporting the themes In the following ways; Themes Annual Community Events Action to reduce dog fouling, litter and fly tipping throughout the area Improve the Main Street Make the entrance and exit routes to the villages even more attractive Improve Path Networks Enhance Natural Environment Developing a local Community Development Trust Make the most of our community facilities Improve skills development for local people to assist them back to work Develop activities and facilities for people Action to improve the poor condition of the roads and Pavements Current/ Ongoing Actions Forth & District Initiative Group is also investigating the possibility of rebuilding the Old Mans Hut at the garden area at the village cross. The re-installing of the children s playparks at local sites And new railing s with a mining theme for the garden area at the village cross and the war memorial Traffic calming. Page 9

Wellington City Council Annual Plan Vogelmorn Precinct submission

Wellington City Council Annual Plan 2016 17 Vogelmorn Precinct submission April 2016 Contact details: Name: David Bagnall, for and on behalf of the VPSG Organisation: Vogelmorn Precinct Steering Group