The list below shows the formal dates for CACG Tidy Weekends in 2021:
Saturday 8th Sunday 9th May
Saturday 5th Sunday 6th June
Saturday 3rd Sunday 4th July
Saturday 24th Sunday 25th July
Saturday 4th Sunday 5th September
Saturday 2nd Sunday 3rd October
Saturday 6th Sunday 7th November
Saturday 4th Sunday 5th December
All dates are subject to any applicable Covid restrictions.
It is a condition of membership of the Craven Arms Community Garden that plotholders contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the communal areas.
Throughout the Covid Pandemic it has been necessary to carry out maintenance in an ad-hoc manner rather than the normal Tidy Days. We are very grateful to those members who have made contributions to the maintenance throughout the Pandemic.
The list below sets out the range of routine maintenance tasks that need to be carried out.
The trimmings must be taken to the Discovery Centre bonfire area.
The soil must be kept away from the shelter decking wood.
Please do what you are able to assist with the maintenance tasks.
Over recent years we have improved the security of the Community Gardens through improvements to fencing and extensions to the gates. The access gates are now routinely padlocked and secured with a key code known only to plotholders.
Unfortunately there have been some security breaches by plotholders where the shed and gates have been left open.
I must stress that it is important that the following security measures are adhered to:
This last point is vital so that no-one other than plotholders can learn the key-code.
If you need to be provided with the secure key code please let me know.
Sean Scannell, Secretary
The CACG AGM was planned for Saturday 6th February 20201.
Unfortunately because of the prevailing lockdown it has been necessary to delay the AGM until later in 2021.
The two existing Committee members agreed to continue in office to manage the affairs of the Community Garden pending re-election at the re-scheduled AGM.
At the moment there is no planned date for an AGM and this will proceed when we are free from lockdown and it is safe for members to meet.
As soon as we have a date we will let plotholders know and circulate any required documents in advance of the meeting.
In the meantime if you should have any issues concerning the Community Garden that require the attention of the Committee please contact myself or your Chairperson John Wood.
Sean Scannell, Secretary
Please note the following date for your 2021 diary. The Craven Arms Community Garden AGM will be held on Saturday 6th February 20201 starting at 14:30.
The venue will be confirmed closer to the date.
Refreshments will be provided.
The AGM provides the opportunity to review the past year and make plans for 2021.
The AGM is also the ideal time to pay annual plot fees.
The Committee of Craven Arms Community Garden have been awarded a grant of £950 from Celebrate National Lottery 25.
At short notice, we developed and submitted a grant application to secure funds towards the refurbishment of the existing frame in order to bring the polytunnel back into use.
The first National Lottery draw took place on the 19th November 1994, and so the National Lottery celebrates it’s 25th birthday in 2019. So far the National Lottery has helped more than 565,000 good causes.
To celebrate it’s 25th anniversary the #CelebrateNationalLottery25 grants scheme is offering grants totalling £2 million. The individual grants up to a maximum value of £1,000 are being offered to organisations with ideas that help bring the community together.
Our successful grant application was for £950 and this was itemised as follows:
Our plan is to refurbish the polytunnel and bring it back into use, and to celebrate this with an “Open Day” on the 27th May 2020 with a buffet lunch for CACG members and friends. The event will allow us to invite members of other organisations that have provided grants to the Community Garden, including:
When the polytunnel was first constructed in 2015 it was vandalised before it could be used. This grant provides the funds to refurbish the polytunnel for the benefit of members. It will allow the growing season to be extended to cover the period from February through to November.
CACG members will be able to use small plots within the polytunnel for an additional fee – and we will provide more information about this later in the year.
Next year we will be calling for volunteers to help to carry out remedial work on the polytunnel frame and site in readiness for recovering the polytunnel.
The Craven Arms Community Garden, CACG, Annual General Meeting, AGM, will be held on Saturday 8th February. Please note the following date for your 2020 diary.
Saturday 8th February 2020
The AGM will be held in the Craven Arms Methodist Church Hall, Corvdale Road, SY7 9ND and will start at 14:30.
Free refreshments – tea, coffee and biscuits – will be provided.
The 2020 AGM will provide the opportunity to review the past year and to make plans for progress through to 2021.
The AGM is also the ideal time pay any rents due on plots.
The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 1st December 2019. Please note this date for your diary:
Sunday 1st December 2019
Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 30th November and I will attend on both Saturday and Sunday.
These are the areas and tasks that we plan to focus on:
At the last Tidy Weekend in November we had a very poor attendance which was probably as a consequence of the heavy rain.
A new list of Tidy Sunday dates will shortly be posted inside the shed door.
The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 6th October 2019. Please note this date for your diary:
Sunday 6th October 2019
Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 5th October and I will attend on both Saturday and Sunday.
These are the areas and tasks that we plan to focus on:
At the last Tidy Weekend in September we had a poor attendance:
One plot-holder was unable to attend because of a medical issue.
It is vital that plot-holders attend Tidy Days and make their contribution to the necessary maintenance of the Community Gardens.
The photograph below shows weeds in the new planter we have built – and this requires weeding.
As part of the restoration of the Community Gardens we are removing overgrowth and weeds from pathways before we re-surface them. The photograph below shows the pathway at the North West of the Community Gardens and illustrates the work required.
We also need to start preparations for a new extension to the Craven Arms Community Garden. This extension will be on the south-side of the Community Gardens. The first step will be clear overgrowth to the perimeter of the boundary pathway as shown in the photograph below.
Please make every effort to attend and contribute to the Tidy Days and the maintenance of the Community Gardens – and please note that this is an obligation and requirement as described in the Constitution of Craven Arms Community Garden.
The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 1st September 2019. Please note this date for your diary:
Sunday 1st September 2019
Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 31st August and myself and your Chairperson, John Wood, will attend on both Saturday and Sunday.
These are the areas and tasks that we plan to focus on:
During the last Tidy Weekend in August, one plot-holder continued to clear weeds from the overgrown pathways in the north east corner of the Community Gardens. The photograph below shows this weed clearing in progress:
If plotholders complete the clearing of this section of pathways over the weekend of 31st August and 1st September, then we can order some more fines to re-surface the path. This work is all part of a “Re-Generation” project to restore the Craven Arms Community Garden to its former glory.
We are able to carry out this re-surfacing project because we have received a grant from Craven Arms Town Council – to whom we are extremely grateful.
There are several projects under way at the moment to improve the security and appearance of the Community Gardens. If any plot-holder are able to help us with these projects then please contact myself, Sean Scannell, Secretary, or John Wood, Chairperson.