Madeley Community Orchard
News
News
Welcome
to the first of what we intend will be regular updates from Madeley Community
Orchard. We hope that you will pass this information on to anybody else who may
be interested, or if you would prefer not to receive the information please
return the email and we will take your details off the distribution list.
£2,000 to Renovate the Pond
The
good news is that there has been a successful application to the Postcode
Lottery which has resulted in funding to renovate the pond. The pond is slowly
turning into a bog garden and to reverse this process it needs to be relined. We
hope that Green Gym will be able to clear out the pond and temporarily remove
the top boards from the Broad Walk to give access. Once the work has been
completed then the Broad Walk will be reinstated. The actual relining of the
pond will be undertaken by ORA Groundcare, who are a local firm, based in
Madeley. The work should all be completed by April 2014, when the pond will
need restocking, so if anybody has some native pond plants to spare we can find
a home for them at the Orchard.
Green Gym
A
big thank you to Green Gym who have done fantastic work at the orchard, turning
up every other Tuesday whatever the weather! Without their help it would have
been very difficult for the volunteers to keep up with the day to day
maintenance, let alone the hard graft. The Green Gym volunteers have been
invaluable
Mowing
Another
big thank you is for Laurence from ORA Groundcare. Who has offered to do the
mowing this year free of charge! This is a very generous offer and much
appreciated by the volunteers. The money that had been set aside for mowing can
now be used for other purposes to be decided.
Allotments
Parts
of the orchard have been set aside for small allotment plots for gardeners who
live in Madeley, Woodside or Cuckoo Oak. Anybody who is interested should
contact info@madeleytowncouncil.gov.uk
who will put you in touch with Pam Marshall, the Chair. Currently the plots are
available free of charge provided that only environmentally friendly gardening
techniques are used.
Volunteering and Events
The
volunteer days will restart on Tuesday 4th February 2014 between
10.00 and 12.00. Anybody who would like to join the small band of volunteers
will be very welcome. Jobs for next year will include planting up the potager,
replanting the pond, planting potatoes and general TLC.
Diary
dates - The first event will be Apple Blossom Day on 6th April.
Details of time and activities will follow. There will be a summer picnic on 13th
July and the Harvest Festival with the Church in September/October.
A
VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR from all at Madeley Community Orchard
