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The Butterfly Garden,
Bamfurlong Lane,
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire.
GL51 6SL
01452 -713068
map
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BUTTERFLY NEWS AUTUMN
2007
BUTTERFLY CAFE OFF TO A FLYING START.
Students from the garden have just embarked on their latest enterprise,
the Butterfly Cafe.
Under the watchful eye of Sue Totham (our catering expert), two
students open the cafe each Monday (
between 10 and 3.30) for drinks and snacks. The menu boasts a
wholesome selection, at very competitive prices. The smoked Salmon
Panini’s are wonderful.
On the first day of trading more than 20 visitors took lunch.
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FLUTTERBUY ! FLYS
There was great excitement in the camp , as students picked
up the news that they were to have their own shop.
Now the fiction has become fact and the shop is built. It
was formally opened to the public on Friday May 11th at
10.30 am by Tewkesbury MP. Laurence Robertson and has been
trading well ever since. It offers a range of donated goods
together with some student products.
The Butterfly Garden continues to grow and this development,
which is run by the students is part of our commitment to
broadening experience and creating sustainability for the
scheme. It is open everyday and we are keen to find volunteers
to help with weekend cover and will also be glad of your
bric-a-brac..
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PALLET WRECKERS ?
A visitor to the site recently passed comment that the place seemed
to be littered with old wooden pallets and asked what we did with
them. At that stage the answer was nothing, but that was then. Today
we are looking at making planters with the scrap timber and very
recently a group of volunteers set about salvaging wood. The exercise
was not only productive, but amazingly therapeutic, with pent up
tension, frustration and anger being off loaded on the task. We
finished up with a big pile of wood and a team totally at peace.
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ANY TWO MAKE A PEAR......REG WAITED EXCITEDLY.
Several people it seems have been concerned about Reg,
well we will be hoping to keep you in touch with him through
forthcoming newletters. He does feature in the book 'Reg's
Garden tips', which is available from "Flutterbuys"
Or by post at just £2.40 incl p&p.
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Our booklet is available at just £1.95 or for
just £2.40 if you would like it posted. Call 01452 - 713124
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GET YOU DUCKS
Well, "can you get us any ducks please" is what I meant to say...
and Paul Gaye (one of our very supportive Dads said yes. This week we
will take delivery of four ducklings and in preparation and celebration,
have been cleaned out our pond
A special thank you must be extended to Alan Brown who suffered the indignity
of flooded wellies (several times) during the dredging. His squeals of
joy (each time the boots refilled) echoed around the site, but he insisted
on seeing the work through .You did a great job Alan.
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A matter of great concern to somebody with political power.
The provision for people in need of a helping hand with their lives is
shrinking. There may be plenty of fancy talk about supportive provision
but the gulf between the talk and the reality is enormous. Everyday more
people turn up at the butterfly garden gate asking if they can join us
and most do.
This week our attendance topped 130 students.
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The Butterfly Constellation.
Last term, we mentioned the amazing Jed Brierley (pictured) from
Gloucester and his wonderful recordable voice. I am delighted to
report that Jed has now secured a regular slot recording with the
Gloucestershire talking newspaper. George Johnson, who runs the
service, tells us that he is delighted to have him in the team.
The newspaper is circulated to over 200 visually impaired listeners.
Jeds next work may well be to record some poetry. Jeff Llewelyn,
who has recently joined us, not only gardens, but is a hugely talented
poet. His writing comes straight from the heart and is both moving
and powerful. We are certain that you will hear much more about
our stars.
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STOP PRESS........
THE VEG BOXES ARE BACK EVERY THURSDAY. GREAT VALUE @£3.50. For
details or to order call or e-mail today
YOUR NEWS..........
We warmly invite you to have your say in the newsletter and will be pleased
to receive your articles, comments or picture
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BREAKING MOOS.
This year saw the cows back on the site. The grass had made wonderful
growth and in April they arrived, sadly their stay was cut short by the
floods though, which reduced their 1 acre paddock to a 10 foot diameter
island in a matter of hours and whilst the water was quick to recede the
field was saturated. They will be back soon
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PLANE SAILING.?
No but , we do have another mission
When last we reported : The telephone was ringing. It was the landlady
of the local pub, "I have a bit of a panic on" she said
"and I wondered if the Butterfly Garden students might be able
to help me out ? It's the garden you see "........... and that
was how it began. Now the students are regularly travelling out
into the community to garden .and clearly the word is passing around
as they have just been asked to help maintain the flower borders
surrounding the departures lounge at Staverton.
More enquiries will inevitably follow and the students are really
up for it.
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OH DEER ! WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE ?
Eighteen months ago, there was no wildlife area Today how the scene
has changed, the trees are taking a hold, the weed management is
just enough to indicate token control and the wildlife has moved
in.
Apart form a great number of birds, including the Kingfisher, we
have seen a Stoat (who has ruffled the rabbit population) and now
are regularly monitoring a family of deer who are clearly visiting
each evening at dusk.
The tell tale signs of bushes grazed well above the ground even
offer a guide post to their entry.
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MAN-URE MAKING SOME WORK
When it was announced that after a very tough summer, the
new vegetable plot needed a boost, it was decided that a bit
of double digging was called for. With great enthusiasm some
of the lads set about taking out their first manure trench
and it was pretty impressive (as our picture shows). Clearly
they were hoping to shift the enormous heap of manure in one
go.
Now if that doesn't bring next years crop up, there is no
hope.
I gather the lads slept well that night !
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WHOOPS ! Me and my big mouth . ..and I only asked for a drop.
What an incredible thing nature is, it is all so clever. We hit
the close of term, I pass flippant comment about rain and in sweeps
a deluge, the likes of which we have never seen before. The garden
flooded, the greenhouse was awash and the poor old cows had to make
do with a ten foot diameter island.. But there we are that's life.
Two days later the water dropped, the students found watering cans
and we all moved on. Quite remarkable.
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CHIPPING AWAY
A big thank you to David Yeates (a local sculptor) who visited
us in July. He worked patiently with a group, introducing them
to the art of stone working and then inviting them to give it
a try.
The students just loved it and whilst he had planned to wrap up
by lunchtime, the students pressed him to stay on. They were totally
hooked and each worked throughout the afternoon, to create their
very own piece.David so enjoyed his day,that he has asked to come
back (news on this soon).
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COME AND JOIN THE GARDEN PARTY AGAIN !
One of the problems with creating something like the Butterfly garden(which
now extends over two acres) is that it demands constant attention. Plants
need watering, lawns need cutting, animals need feeding and the weeds
just keep coming.
A big thank you to all who came in as volunteers through the holidays
to keep the garden up together. You did a great job
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RETURN TO EDEN
Following on from the hugely successful trip in 2006, we were delighted
to be invited to take yet another group of students on a weeks work
experience into the Eden Project this Summer.
Eden have become very supportive of us and the group had a wonderful
time. 2008's trip is already pencilled in and students are clamouring
to be part of the expedition.
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GROWN AND MOWN
In the spring edition of the newsletter, we reported on the huge
efforts made by students to reclaim the ground that had been the
site dump. It was an enormous task, but by the summer the patch
had been levelled and seeded. The warmth and rain brought the grass
up quickly and now three months and two cuts later we are marking
out the spacings across the land for our orchard, The heritage fruit
trees are ordered and we will take delivery of them next month.
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THE WITCHES BREW LIMERICK COMPETITION
In support of The Butterfly Garden
JUST FILL IN THE LAST LINE....
There was a young witch who lived near,
Who watched planes 'til they'd disappear,
She said to her cat,
A clever trick that,
.....YOU PUT THE LAST BIT IN HERE.
Hand in with your name and contact number or e-mail them with
your verse to info@thebutterflygarden.org
Our creative writing group have organised this one.....entries
with 50p please.
The winner will be announced at Haloween
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DIG THOSE BOYS.
Over the years there has been a huge amount of energy applied to
the restoration of previously uncultivated ground.
Some, have made an enormous commitment to the task.
This summer, after three years with us our champion 'digger' Chris
Nicholas (who came to be known as Captain JCB) , moved on.
He and his pals (affectionately known as the A team) made a huge
impression.
In recognition of their work an old JCB bucket has been set up and
planted as a permanent reminder of their labours.
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THE LATEST ARRIVAL
What is it? It is not what it was.
Why have we got it? It was going for scrap.
Why do we want it You'll have to wait and see,
Jeff and I have a plan .
Health and Safety ? DON'T PANIC !
So what does this say, but don't throw it away, for the cost of
a call, please ask anyway.
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TO THE MANOR DRAWN
In early September, we were invited by the Gloucestershire Community
Foundation to take part in a fund raising garden party in the grounds
of Boddington Manor.
Once again a team of volunteers were on hand to set up and run our
stand and a good deal of interest was shown by visitors.
The weather was kind and the setting was beautiful. We extend our
thanks to the Foundation andto the Hitchins family for inviting
us along, as well as to Jane, Colin and Stuart Evans who did the
deed.
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COMING SOON……The cabin campaign continues,
new groups sign up and the plastic recycling will really start to take
off this winter.
Watch the web !
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The roll of honour....... THANK YOU…As usual people continue
to offer their time and support to our work, so this term a big thanks to
the wonderful Sue Totham and Gemma Winwood (who have made a dream a reality)Rob
and Henry Buckland, Cheltenham Horticultural Society, ASTAC, Hillary, Eileen,
Zurich Insurance, Colin Walker, Paul Barnes, Joe Tustin, Rich Thomas (our
webmaster)and Jane,Colin and Stuart Evans. Also to Robin from Denmark Road,
Graham (from Nailsworth) and Rob of Work Op's who have all been brilliant.and
to all those who continue to support our vegetable box scheme as well as
those who keep our sales table stocked.
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