Keeping everyone in
the shade. What an amazing year we have had.
Student numbers have again increased and the productivity of the
garden has greatly exceeded expectations.Outside
support has been huge too. In October last year we reported that
we were about to embark on a fund raising drive to buy a shaded
teaching space, in the wake of students suffering on hot days. The
project was priced out at nearly £4,000.00. Word crept out and help
poured in. The shelter was completed and paid for in February. Our
thanks to all who helped, with a special thank you to the Gloucestershire
Community Foundation, and the Creed family who really made the difference.
The shelter has been invaluable this year, allowing us to carry
on through some very long hot days.
More Garden, More Gardeners The number of students using the
garden continues to grow, with some days as many as twenty five
on the site at one time. Students are coming in from right across
the district. They come from Schools and colleges, through care
homes and occupational units and some independently. The real delight
is that everybody is keen and the place echoes with that. Enthusiasmbrings progress and a terrific amount of work has been done,
with new areas being reclaimed every day. To the rear of the
site is an acre of ground that hadn’t been used in fifty years.
Its being used now. Stripped of briars and brambles, cleared of
weeds andploughed, the area is subdivided into four new garden spaces. We
have a substantial new allotment, a paddock, a willow plantation
and a wildlife area. The next months are set to be very exciting.
A special welcome to our new
students from Milestones, Stroud College and Churchdown School who,
together with the members of Gloucester Guidepost.have joined existing
users this Autumn.
Last Ditch Attempt To the northern edge of the site is an
old stream. It was full of rubbish, dead elm stumps littered its banks
and whilst the occasional drifting twig hinted at a flow, therewas a smell that suggested otherwise. Until
that was the students found it. Now it is being reshaped as a managed
wildlife area. It has been fenced and soon 200 trees will be introduced
to the space. Our next big fund raising push is to raise money for a circuit
of pathways. Winding out through the undergrowth, the path will be 1.5
metres in width and 120 metres in length and will offer good access to
all. The construction will be in recycled material.
Another
KEY STAGE development…..Four
primary schools have sent in children this year on one day visits to learn
about growing and lovely days they were.
Climbing
up the tables.
We are to be joined this autumn by a group in wheelchairs. In order
to enhance their gardening experience we have designed and built
a set of table top gardens. The structures are four foot square
boxes of compost set on to table legs with casters. The table top
design allows users to slide their chairs right up to their work
and the ten inch deep box enables them to grow anything. Trials
with a wide range of flowers and vegetables (including Beetroots
and carrots) have been very successful. The casters enable easy
relocation of the units as the weather changes.
Who says some people don’t give
a Fig ?.......Clearly
someone does, we have just been given one in fact. Container grown it
stands nearly six feet tall, with a spread of five feet. It is truly magnificent
and we’ve found a perfect spot for it alongside our new shelter.
A passage from India…..and Kenya too. We were delighted this year to be
enrolled into the international experience that is ‘Gardens for Life’
a school gardens link with India and Kenya. Some 80 schools are now sharing
their gardening experiences on a regular basis. It is fascinating and
our involvement will, I suspect grow.
CHRYS IS A REAL CARD.
When she heard
that the garden was fund raising again, local artist Chrys Iles
was quick to offer help.
She has painted a beautiful
picture of the Holly Blue butterfly (captured in the garden logo)
and had it converted into a greetings card. All proceeds from the
card and the original picture, (which is to be auctioned) are being
given to the project, Early card sales are very strong.
FUND DAYS.....The maggot racing was
great, the dance was terrific, the plant sales have satisfied, but do
keep bringing in thatbric a bracplease…..The table top sales have generated
some really useful money.
NEWS OF 'OUR CABIN' CREW....... We are exploring the idea of
building a cabin on the plot. To add diversity to our provision, to serve
as a workshop/classroom space with a flexible option to offer summer weekend
camps for students. Its going to cost, but we are all keen and it will
be a great resource.
The roll of honour.......The Butterfly
Garden has had huge support this year from a wide range of people. The quality
of lives has been changed by their kindness. Here are a few thank – yous.
The Gloucestershire Community Foundation, Severn Sound Money Mountain, Cheltenham
and North Gloucestershire Mencap, Rich Thomas (of web-informed), Chrys Iles,
Mr and Mrs T. Creed, Mr Joe Tustin, Stagecraft, Badgeworth Court Care Centre,
Mr Roger Curtis ( Accountant) , Mike Hennessey, Stuart Smith, Colin Sanders
(Mr Sensory),Chris Beard (our logo
man) and Fothergills seeds.
Registered charity
no. 1133233
"The flap of a butterfly wing in America
can cause an earthquake in China" - The Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Garden is supported
by a group of volunteers and is of charitable purpose.
We are a member of THRIVE the horticultural therapy charity.
If you want to know more about our work or feel like offering some help
or telephone 01452-713068.
