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
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
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
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:
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
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.
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.
CACG Paths Before and After Clearing
More recently we have started to re-surface the pathways and this is shown in the photograph below:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
We are grateful to Euro Quality Foundation who kindly provided the funds to allow this project to be carried out.
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.
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.
