Category Archives: Tidy Sundays

Tidy Sunday October 2019

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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:

  • mowing grass
  • strimming grass and pathways
  • removing weeds and overgrowth from pathways
  • removing weeds from the new planter

At the last Tidy Weekend in September we had a poor attendance:

  • 3 plot-holders attended on the Saturday
  • 3 plot-holders attended on the Sunday

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.

Weeds in a new CACG planter
Weeds in a new CACG planter

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.

Weeds on a CACG Pathway
Weeds on a CACG Pathway

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.

Onny Meadow Pathway
Onny Meadow Pathway

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.

Tidy Sunday September 2019

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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:

  • mowing grass
  • strimming grass and pathways
  • removing weeds and overgrowth from pathways
  • removing weeds from the planted beds

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:

CAGG Clearing North East Pathways
CAGG Clearing North East Pathways

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.

Tidy Sunday August 2019

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The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 4th August 2019. Please note this date for your diary:

Sunday 4th August 2019

Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 3rd 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:

  • mowing grass
  • strimming grass and pathways
  • removing weeds and overgrowth from pathways
  • removing weeds from the planted beds

During the last Tidy Weekend in July, 2 plot-holders continued to clear weeds from the overgrown pathways. The photograph below shows the results of this weed clearing.

A photograph that illustrates the before and after of pathway clearing at Craven Arms Community Garden.
CACG Paths Before and After Clearing

More recently we have started to re-surface the pathways and this is shown in the photograph below:

A photograph of a re-surfaced pathway at Craven Arms Community Garden
Re-surfaced Pathway at CACG

We have a number of projects under way at the moment aimed at restoring the Community Gardens to their 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.

We have several more projects under way 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.

Tidy Sunday July 2019

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The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 7th July 2019. Please note this date for your diary:

Sunday 7th July 2019

Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 6th July 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:

  • mowing grass
  • strimming grass and pathways
  • removing any weeds from already cleared paths
  • path clearance – continuing path clearance ready for re-surfacing

During the last Tidy Weekend in June, 2 plot-holders continued clearing the pathways as described in readiness for re-surfacing. The photograph below shows the results of this pathway clearing.

A photograph showing path clearance in the north east corner of the Craven Arms Community Garden
CACG Path Clearance NE Corner

Over time grass and weeds have encroached on the edges of the paths and in some places the surface has deteriorated. Our aim is to restore the pathways to their original condition and ensure that they are both 1.2 m wide and have a surface that is suitable for wheelchair users and the less able.

We have recently received a grant for £800 from Craven Arms Town Council and this will fund some of the restoration and regeneration projects that we currently have under way.

If any plot-holder are able to help us with these projects then please contact myself, Sean Scannell, or John Wood, Chairperson.

Tidy Sunday June 2019

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The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 2nd June 2019. Please note this date for your diary:

Sunday 2nd June 2019

Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 1st June 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:

  • mowing grass
  • strimming grass and pathways
  • path clearance – in the North-West of the garden towards the gate
  • path clearance – in the North-East of the garden towards the gate
  • path clearance – around the central Hornbeam hedge

During the last Tidy Weekend in May, 2 plot-holders made an excellent start on clearing the pathways as described in this blog post. The photograph below shows the “before” and “after” of this pathway clearing.

A photograph that illustrates the before and after of pathway clearing at Craven Arms Community Garden.
CACG Paths Before and After Clearing

When the Community Garden was first constructed the paths were designed to be wheelchair-friendly. Over time grass and weeds have encroached on the edges of the paths and in some places the surface has deteriorated.

We are aiming to restore the pathways to their original condition and ensure that they are both 1.2 m wide and have a surface that is suitable for wheelchair users and the less able.

We are currently seeking grant funding to purchase the requisite surface dressing to restore the paths, but the first step is to remove the growth encroaching on the paths.

Tidy Sunday May 2019

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The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 5th May 2019. Please note this date for your diary:

Sunday 7th May 2019

Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 6th April 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:

  • mowing grass
  • strimming grass and pathways
  • path clearance – in the North-West of the garden towards the gate
  • path clearance – in the North-East of the garden towards the gate
  • path clearance – around the central Hornbeam hedge

When the Community Garden was first constructed the paths were designed to be wheelchair-friendly. Over time grass and weeds have encroached on the edges of the paths and in some places the surface has deteriorated.

The image below is taken from Google Maps satellite view and shows how the paths have lost definition.

An aerial view of the Craven Arms Community Garden
An aerial view of the Craven Arms Community Garden

We are currently seeking some grant funding to allow us to carry out remedial work to the Community Gardens including restoring the pathways to their former glory.

Fencing NE Corner – Stage 1

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In an earlier post I wrote about the funds we have received from Euro Quality Foundation which we are using to repair and replace fences, gates and hedges at the Craven Arms Community Garden.

These improvements will enhance both the appearance of the Community Garden and also increase security to combat the thefts and damage suffered in recent years.

The photograph below shows the state of disrepair of the fences at the North East corner of the Community Garden.

The fences at the north east corner of the Craven Arms Community Garden March 2019
CACG Fences North East Corner

On the Tidy Sunday yesterday, 7th April 2019, three Plot-Holders of the Community Garden – John Wood, Kevin Roche and Sean Scannell – started work on this project.

The first stage saw the removal of the existing fence and fence posts and preparation of the ground for the installation of new, taller fence posts and new wire fencing.

The photograph below shows the north east corner of the Community Garden after the existing fence had been removed and the ground prepared for new fence posts and fencing

Ground Preparation for the New Fence
Ground Preparation for the New Fence

We are grateful to Euro Quality Foundation who kindly provided the funds to allow this project to be carried out.

Tidy Sunday April 2019

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The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 7th April 2019. Please note this date for your diary:

Sunday 7th April 2019

Some members may prefer to attend on Saturday 6th April and myself and your Chairperson, John Wood, will attend on both Saturday and Sunday

Our overall priority is to prepare for fence repairs at the North-East corner of the Community Garden. The work on Saturday will allow us to use Sunday for the preparations for fence repairs

These are the areas and tasks that we plan to focus on:

  • strimming grass and pathways
  • path clearance – especially in the North-West of the garden towards the gate
  • clearing beneath the fences on the North-East corner

We have received some funds from Euro Quality Foundation, the charitable arm of Euro Quality Lambs Ltd. who are based in Craven Arms.

These funds enable us to start repairing and improving fences to enhance the security of the Community Gardens.

The fences at the north east corner of the Craven Arms Community Garden March 2019
CACG Fences North East Corner

As you can see in the photograph above, these fences are in need of repair. We are taking the opportunity to increase the height of the fences and gates to provide security.

We are very grateful to the Euro Quality Foundation for providing the funds to carry out these works.

The first stage of this work is to clear all vegetation from beneath and beside the fences so that a working party can then install new posts and fencing before planting new hedging.

Tidy Sunday March 2019

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The next Tidy Sunday is Sunday 3rd March 2019. Please note this date for your diary:

Sunday 3rd March 2019

These are the areas and tasks that we plan to focus on:

  • Cutting back the raspberry canes
  • Cutting the hearts out of the Gooseberry bushes
  • Clearing the ivy pile
  • Strimming grass and pathways

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Tidy Saturdays Are Now Tidy Sundays

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The topic of Tidy Saturdays was discussed at the CACG (Craven Arms Community Garden) AGM held on Saturday 2nd February 2019. In order to maintain maximum flexibility for plotholders in attending these monthly communal area maintenance days, it was agreed to change from the first Saturday of the month to the first Sunday of the month.

Hence Tidy Saturdays Are Now Tidy Sundays.

The planned Tidy Sundays dates for 2019 are shown below:

  • Sunday 3rd March 2019
  • Sunday 7th April 2019
  • Sunday 5th May (Bank Holiday weekend) 2019
  • Sunday 2nd June 2019
  • Sunday 7th July 2019
  • Sunday 4th August 2019
  • Sunday 1st September 2019
  • Sunday 6th October 2019
  • Sunday 3rd November 2019
  • Sunday 1st December 2019

This change to Sunday morning also means that with the kind support of Grant Wilson, Centre Manager, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, we can link up with Discovery Centre volunteers when larger tasks need to be tackled.