blooming marvellous awards!
We have wonderful news to share! The results are in and we have been given three awards by South & South East in Bloom
South & South East in Bloom RHS 'It's Your Neighbourhood' - Level 5 Outstanding
South & South East in Bloom 'Our Community' - Silver Gilt award
Special Award – GOLD 'Growing your Community'
We're so happy that our fantastic community garden has received this recognition and want to say a massive thank you to all of the volunteers, group leaders, friends, supporters and funders who make up our special community. We'll be proudly displaying our awards in the gardening shed very soon.
We'd also like to say a big well done to local friends the Badshot Lea Bloomers who were awarded a level 3 Advancing award in the 'It's Your Neighbourhood' category and Hale Community Centre who picked up a level 4 Thriving award in the same category.
And that's not all! Congratulations to everyone at Farnham Town Council for achieving Gold awards in both the Large Town and Town/City Centre categories of South & South East in Bloom. Amazing results for our town!
in our garden
Our wonderful volunteers tending to the garden and being part of our welcoming and supportive community.
Work has started on using some donated wood to build an additional and bigger composting area (because you can never have too much compost!). It's a great way to recycle and reuse green waste in the garden.
Our Thursday gardening group decided to tackle some of the thistles and brambles that have taken hold at the far end of the wildflower meadow this week.
crafty work
Both our bodger's and Farnham Men In Sheds groups are thriving, crafting and creating. All under the watchful eye of Tuppy the dog!
thank you
Oh the joy of new gardening tools! A very kind donation of the three shiny, perfect forks on the right. Much needed replacements for some of our tools that have served us well but seen better days!
weekly wishlist
At space2grow we love to recycle and reuse and save money. Our various groups have created a wishlist of items that would make a real difference on the acre. If you can help by donating any of these items please email us
files and rasps suitable for use with wood
seeds and plants
reflections from the acre
For this week's reflections we thought we'd share the judges comments from our Level 5 Outstanding South & South East in Bloom 'It's Your Neighbourhood Award'.....
"This community group is very active and has achieved a great deal in the last three years when considering that the site, of approximately one acre was a neglected garden / allotment area. Luckily it was saved as an area of open space and long may it continue. The most effective part of the space is the extensive area of wildflowers providing a great colourful blend of colour and wildlife. As each area unfolds during a tour of the site it is apparent that a great deal of work has gone into development over the years.
There are now at least three structures on site, including a recent addition of the Farnham Men in Sheds shed. This has enabled another group to be able to use the facilities and the group operating from the shed are complimentary to the other works. I was able to meet an enormous variety of organisers, from cooking club, to 'bodger', to on site hands on trustees. One of the trustees is a locally well known horticulturist and it would have been good to spend more time with him. All those providing the leadership skills are generous with their time and without this voluntary effort the scheme would be unable to carry on.
The pond area is already well established despite being in its first stages and during a clearance of duckweed already there were newts, beetles and fish! One of the boundaries consists of willow which the group are able to coppice for use by the bodgers and provide another element by weaving the willow to make screen panels and willow ornamentals. The larger stems can also be used a plant supports. A large stand of bamboo is also utilised for plant supports. Recycling of green waste is practised throughout the site. Numerous activates were taking place during the visit and everyone was really enjoying themselves. Vegetables are grown extensively and it is possible to support a cookery group once per week. The group are able to raise funds locally and future development would appear to be no problem."
If you would like to share what the acre means to you please email info@space2grow.space - we love hearing everyones reflections.
As always, we are working hard to ensure that space2grow remains a Covid safe site so please email info@space2grow.space prior to your visits, bring your own food and drink, take any rubbish home and please adhere to social distancing.
Thank you and see you soon!