Here’s the latest news from the Golden Hill Community Garden from Lucy Mitchell, Community Project Worker…

Hi Folks,

It was a cold first week back for everyone in the garden last week but embracing the winter is what we’re all about here!  Well, to be fair we don’t have much choice so it’s best make the best of it! 

We were loving (and smashing) the all the ice with the toddler group on on Tuesday and Thursday found us all huddled in the shelter making lanterns with the afterschool as the rain lashed down. What a week!  And in the middle we had our first volunteer day back on the Wednesday when we were busy spreading compost, continuing the mud kitchen revamp, digging out massive sedge plants we’ve  ignored for too long, sowing out first seeds of the year (sweet peas!) and of course slurping down hot delicious soup for lunch. 

The great tits have started singing again, claiming their territories and calling out to the world, the bulbs are pushing up and we’re already counting down the weeks to the return of the frogs in February.

While there’s not a lot of harvest to take home there’s always bits and bobs and always lots to do and a cheerful bunch of folks to do it with.  If you’re ever free on a Wednesday pop along, children welcome. It can be a really tough time of year but a bit of community, fresh air, bird song and biscuits will  always make it a bit better.  We’re open from 10-4 and I show new folks round at 12 and 2:30 or just come you can. No need to come every week or stay all day and there’s always a range of jobs to suit all sorts. 

The childrens’ groups were back last week and we’re currently got space in both our toddler groups! We run on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-11:30 and it’s a free roaming session of digging, playing, exploring, crafting, pond dipping and then we come together at the end for singing and a story.   It’s a very relaxed and friendly group and we’ve got plenty of covered spaces and a warm space for when the weather is not on our side.  If you’re not sure it’s for you and would fancy a trial session then get in touch or just book your spot here!  The cost is tiered from £6/8/10 per child and we’ve also got a couple of free places so if you  or anyone you know would benefit from that please let them know.

And I’ll leave you with quick tale of villainy from local rascal Harry the Cat who stunned all of us at the toddler group and caused fury to all the local corvids by climbing all the way up the magpie’s pine tree on the edge of the garden. 

He carried on climbing despite being by screamed at by a crowd of magpies who were then joined by cawing crows and then even by shouting jackdaws.  He climbed all the way to the top and then arrived at the empty magpie nest…. and then climbed in and sat down!  In the nest!  Outrageous! The birds went WILD! More were arriving all the time to make more noise.  I’ve never seen such a cross species display of solidarity.  Harry had to quickly but gingerly make his way down whilst being dived bombed by crows all the way down! 

And did he learn his lesson? I hope so but he was looking pretty pleased with himself nevertheless as he trotted over and leapt on someone’s lap.  

See you in the garden!

Lucy

Lucy Mitchell
Community Project Worker
07506 905 394
ghcgarden@gmail.com