One year of Groundwork in action

Growing Together

The community plot at Walnut Allotments has been a great success this year! Five families have tended the plot on a weekly basis and its looking great. There are three sessions left until we close down for winter and start again in Feburary when we will manure the soil in preparation for planting in spring. Families will also be making a plan of what they would like to grow so they can eat all the things they like!

A big thank you to all of the families who have attended Walnut, I hope you have enjoyed it.

Were still trying to encourage local families to attend Pimhole Greenhouse, numbers have dwindled since the summer so fingers crossed we will have more interest next year.

The pictures below were taken over the past four months at Walnut allotments.

The Pimhole greenhouse is finally up and runnning! Local children from St. Thomas’s Primary school are regularly tending the greenhouse. Pupils have been looking after the vegetables and plants along with the animals on the farm. We are now breaking up for the summer but gardening sessions will commence in September. A growing site has just been completed at St. Thomas’s just in time for Bury in Bloom next month…..watch this space for photos! 

Assembly of the greenhouse is taking place and should be complete within the next few weeks. We are hoping to begin planting with local community groups by April, fingers crossed!

Here are some pictures of the greenhouse site so far!

Growing Together now has two community growing sites in Eastward, Bury. A new addition to the project is Walnut Avenue Allotment Association which has been a feature in Eastward since 1916. It was known back then as Bury Horticultural Society until 1997 when it changed names and became a self financing site.

WAAA has won several awards for their contribution to the community including Social Services Horticultural Outreach Project, Community Environmental Project and an achievement award from Bury in Bloom. WAAA were also given a Green Pennant Award last year.

Community groups will be working at both Pimhole and Walnut sites so they can experience an allotment and farm environment. Groundwork is working in conjunction with Hoyle’s Children’s Centre with an early year’s family group at Walnut allotments. Sessions begin on Thursday 26^th Feb, come down and learn how to grow your own fruit and veg! All families are welcome!

Kevin - Secretary of WAAA discussing the benefits of working on an allotment site…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEO7zDKNkqI

Walnut Allotments

Eight Families attended a bulb planting session at the Jinnah Centre in Pimhole on November 12th. The Jinnah Centre grounds were in need of some colour so mother’s and children from the estate took on the task of giving the garden a make over. The group planted tulip bulbs and made colourful flowers to enhance the yard. The session was the first of many in the area to encourage local residents to attend the Greenhouse Project at Pimhole Farm when it is up and running.

You will be able to track the progress of the Growing Together project here! The BIG Lottery funded project is aimed at encouraging families to develop gardening skills, learn together and increase interest in their local community. The project is already underway in schools, community centre’s and parks across Bury and Bolton. 

As part of the project we will be erecting a 11ftx25ft greenhouse at Pimhole Community Farm in Bury where local residents will be invited to attend gardening sessions and encouraged to help with managing and maintaining the site whilst developing their gardening skills. 

We have been granted planning permission but are still waiting for funding for the installation. 

We are still in the early stages of the project but you can see it progressing by logging onto this blog and viewing updates, the site also gives you an opportunity to ask any questions and give your thoughts and ideas on the project.

Here are some photo’s of the site at the moment!

Pimhole Farm

Site for the greenhouse - September 2008

Stuart - Pimhole Manager