Well, we have made a very successful start to the new year at Grozone. Angela and I did a litter pick, so the site looks much tidier now. Jon and Russell spent the session storing wood and chopping
kindling to keep us warm over winter, ably assisted by Neil and Clarence processing twigs for the brazier. Sarah and Emilia harvested the rest of the sprouts, freeing up the bed for planting beans starting next month.

On Wednesday, we are hoping to prepare two of the raised beds for planting and sow cauliflower seeds. There is also the path to finish, and digging to prepare for Emily’s return at the end of the
month. For those wanting sedentary tasks, there are bird boxes and mosaics to complete. We are also looking forward to cooking a tasty parsnip soup from our own parsnips!

That’s it now until the New Year! On Wednesday Town Mayor Alison Gerrard joined us to celebrate the end of the initial building phase of Grozone, funded by the Big Lottery, through the People’s Millions Programme. Nutritionist Mark Gleave, ably assisted by Groundwork Cheshire Executive Director, Jane Staley, and several Grozone volunteers, conjured up a delicious vegetable curry for everyone to share, utilising ingredients from the garden.

Meanwhile Emily and other volunteers continued with the creation of the on-site arts trail. All visitors and volunteers were invited to paint a letter from a poem created by volunteers onto a brick to form a storytelling circle.

Thanks to the People’s Millions, Grozone volunteers now enjoy the benefits of a greenhouse (with water harvesting facilities) to raise seedlings and tender plants, a yurt with a wood burning stove, raised beds, a soft fruit garden, a herb bed, wildflower borders and wheelchair-friendly paths for access (ruggedly tested by Dan and Sam, among others). Volunteers have helped to build all these features, as well as sowing seeds, pricking out, planting, harvesting and, best of all eating the fruits of their labours!

Saturday was our last session, where we said goodbye to onsite-officer Mike, and as it was rather wet, we spent most of it in the Yurt, testing the efficiency of the new wood-burning stove and enjoying the home-made soup bought by Denise and David.

Next year, starting on Saturday 7th January, we look forward to just as full a programme, although the emphasis will be more on the growing aspects of the garden. There will still be plenty of digging, mattocking, shoveling and woodworking to work off your Christmas dinner, tho’!

The bulb planting event was a great success - Town Mayor, Councillor Alison Gerrard lead the way by planting up some cyclamen (OK - I know they grow from tubers, not bulbs, but so what - they make a beautiful show until the bulbs come through!) Jim bought a large group from Stepping Stones to join volunteers, neighbours and friends in planting a large selection of cyclamen and bulbs in containers to brighten up the winter scene at Grozone.

The compost toilet is coming along well - we now have the four corner posts and most of the hurdles for the base.

The yurt now has a wood burning stove - much appreciated by everyone at this time of year!

The art trail is growing well. Russell spent Saturday stenciling the words of the poem on anything that didn’t move. We’re still looking to see if any squirrels were foolish enough to sleep within reach - I wouldn’t put it past him to stencil them as well!

Emily had us collecting willow to make an archway of part of the poem, and Nick did a great job clearing the area under the tree to hang our runes from, and collecting bricks to define it.

To brighten the garden up for spring, Northwich Town Council have kindly given us a grant for a Bulb Planting Event, which will be held on Sunday November 27^th at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome to help the Town Mayor, Councillor Alison Gerrard and Grozone volunteers to plant bulbs and cyclamen, or just come for a look to see how the site is developing.

Northwich’s Grozone Community Garden Project is embarking on a new and exciting project with volunteers to create a poignant and poetic Arts Trail within the beautiful outdoor space that has been created from derelict wasteland near Vickersway Park (between the Whalley Road playing fields  and the Railway Viaduct).  Volunteers and staff from Groundwork have worked tirelessly for over 2 years to develop the site and provide a safe, accessible and welcoming community project with activities, training opportunities and volunteering for people in Northwich and Rudheath.  

With the garden coming together and lots of things going on, an Arts Trail seemed like a natural progression onto another challenge.  North-West Artist Emily Pitts is heading up the project alongside Russell Kirk, a multi-disciplinary Artist based in Chester.  Emily says “what’s so good about creating the trail is that volunteers and workers at the project are in the driving seat - it’s their ideas, hard work and talent that are making the arts trail come alive.  Russell and I are here to help make their ideas work and to give support, skills and guidance so that the trail is meaningful, lasting and enjoyable for them and for visitors.”  

Using a whole range of techniques from model-making, sculpting, weaving and drawing to painting and creative writing, Emily, Russell and the team of volunteers will be creating a series of linked artworks on the theme of humans within Landscape, culminating in a showcase by the end of the year.  The works, which are inspired by land art from internationally renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy, will be made only from materials in the garden, reflecting the ethical and environmentally responsible nature of Grozone - something which is both a challenge and an inspiration to the volunteers.  

Comments about the project from volunteers include:-

“Brilliant, loads of interesting things to do, and so satisfying the see the results”

“Fantastic to see such a brilliant project in Northwich - well organised and friendly - I will come again!”

“Learnt new skills and left Grozone looking better than when I arrived”

The project builds on the foundations of Grozone - not only are people learning new skills, but their confidence is already growing and they’re getting involved in a democratic process where they are being heard.  Being out in the garden is healthy and fun - it’s a great thing to be a part of and anyone can be a part of it.  Sessions will be running throughout the rest of November and December, so if you would like to see what it’s all about, come down to Grozone and find out.  

Oh no - not again!

We had a great bonfire in our fire pit to celebrate Bonfire Night. Carla and Nicola, ably assisted by Sarah, produced a wonderful guy, and Jon created a great bonfire in our firepit, where we enjoyed sausages cooked on sycamore sticks over the fire, before poor old Guido was helped into the fire and spectacularly consumed. We finished up with a selection of cakes supplied by Mike and volunteers.

Martin Watson and the BTCV Vale Royal volunteers, assisted by some of our regulars have started building our long awaited compost toilet, funded by INEOS Chlor. The first post was erected on Thursday, and we’re using our own willow for hurdles for the walls.

The frosts are taking their toll on our flowers – the spectacular bed of nasturtiums planted by the horticultural students are looking very sad, and Jane spent Wednesday pulling out the cosmos which have provided such a wonderful display for the past few months. This revealed the geraniums (cranesbill) and pulmonaria which, although overshadowed all summer, have been spreading vigorously. Sarah carefully potted up the tender geraniums (Zonal Pelargoniums) to overwinter in our greenhouse, and hopefully provide cuttings for next year.

Other volunteers erected the summer house kindly donated to Grozone, and then moved the workbench, built by Bill and his team, into it.

Pete Attwood from BTCV made a very welcome return visit and showed an interested group of volunteers how to maintain out tools, repairing spades and a sledgehammer with handles broken by too enthusiastic use!

There has been so much happening at Grozone recently that there just hasn’t been time to update the blog.

Andy has been busy trying to fill Beth’s shoes – a very difficult task, but one he’s managing admirably!

Most of the harvesting is done, so the gardening will now wind down for winter, but there is still plenty to do. The leaves donated to us last year by Northwich Town council have composted down beautifully, and together with our home-made compost have been used to enrich and build up the beds.

Our Yurt (a kind of circular tent, like that used by Mongolians) funded by INEOS Chlor , finally arrived in August. Glen the Bodger from Offshoots in Lancashire, who had been constructing it for us showed volunteers how to erect it on the base that Mike and his team had prepared in a clearing at Grozone. We now have a shelter to do our woodworking and art projects in bad weather. Hurray! Bill has been teaching Sarah and I how to make a simple workbench. I can now (usually) hammer a nail in straight!

Jon (Swampy) has been doing a great job with his team of volunteers, particularly Clarence, in clearing the stream (which has finally filled with water after a very dry summer). Or perhaps they just like playing in mud! They’ve dug so far down in places, we keep expecting to see kangaroos hopping out!

The horticultural students are doing well, with only a week or so to go, they have passed most of their assessments with flying colours. Many want to go on for further study to Reasheath. They have been responsible for creating several beautiful borders in Grozone, and helped clear the pathways.

We are finally building our long-awaited compost toilet (thanks to Inneos Chlor). Pete Attwood, from BTCV paid a visit to the site last week to establish the best place to site it. On Thursday, BTCV’s Vale Royal volunteers arrived and started building hurdles, to create the traditional daub and wattle walls.

Northwich Town Council have kindly given us funding to run a bulb planting session, so next spring we and the wildlife can look forward to a great show of colour. Watch this space to find out the date of the session.

We will also be running a series of six art workshops in the run-up to Christmas. These will coincide with the usual sessions on Wednesday 16^th November, Saturday 26^th November, Wednesday 30^th November, Saturday 10^th December, Wednesday 14^th December and a final celebration event on Saturday 17th December. Everyone is welcome. The sessions will be run by Emily who helped with the filming a few weeks ago. At the first session on Wednesday 16^th, we will discuss ideas and a theme for the sessions, so please come along then and share your thoughts.

As well as these special sessions we will be busy over winter with the usual environmental management tasks – hedgelaying, pruning, path building, etc

Beth Brockett left Groundwork this week after three and half busy years. Most of you will know her from her time steering Grozone. She had an emotional leaving party on Wednesday. She said she would be back when she could as a volunteer. She is going back to University to do a pHD in Sustainable Agriculture at Lancaster.

Beth said she had enjoyed her time with the trust but when the opportunity came up for a funded pHD it was too good to miss. She will be sorely missed by both volunteers and staff alike.

Andy

Grozone introduces Andy Martin - the new Project Manager for the garden.

Andy can be contacted on 01606 723160 or andy.martin@groundwork.org.uk

To start with Andy will be working one day a week on the project - so please be patient if he takes a few days to get back to you!