Carers Community Gardens Project -
Donation protected
I run a successful YouTube channel based on my allotment and the interests associated with it, including community projects I am involved with.
An unusual new project is starting up soon at Wykin. Many people of all ages are now involved in looking after disabled or elderly people. We all know at least one person who looks after elderly parents, and it can be a full time job.
Carers, like the people they serve, need somewhere to relax and 'chill out'. One way of doing this is to learn new skills - and there's nowhere better to do this than in a community garden, finding out how to grow flowers, vegetables and fruit from people who have done it before.
We are therefore looking for people to become involved in this project - and not just carers. People at work know how deadly it can be socialising with colleagues - and it's the same here; we need a significant number who are NOT carers so we get an interesting mix and not too much 'talking shop'.
If you would like to be involved, please get in touch.
All being well we should be up and running at some point in the next few months. We are looking for people who would like to participate REGULARLY in gradually turning a grassed area into a community garden containing flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs; we would like a few people with gardening skills to keep us going in the right direction but the main quality we need is enthusiasm.
The reason I have put this funding page up is because we need to purchase or match funds from grants to purchase a portacabin/tool shed, tools for volunteers plus lots more including 100's of raised beds and the soil to fill them.
My vision is that carers will be able to either participate or visit and take a much needed 1hr or 2 to enjoy the sounds and smells of the countryside, maybe take part in some painting or planting or just sit down and have a much needed tea break. Here is a brief outline of what the project would involve, done in stages:
* Sensory gardens
* Communal plots made up of raised beds
* Fruit Orchard consisting of Leicestershire/UK fruit trees and bushes including Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Loganberries, Raspberries and other lesser-known fruit.
* Workshops on looking after fruit.
* Fruit tasting
* Virtual Gardens for those unable to leave their homes or who live too far away but wish to have some participation.
* Meadowland where wild flowers can grow with grass paths to allow visitors to admire the variety of flora and fauna.
* Scrub to encourage wildlife; bat boxes, bird boxes.
* Pond to encourage frogs, newts and invertebrates which help keep pests at bay and bring harmony.
* Cameras set up in hidden areas to film the wildlife visiting the site.
* Painting workshops (I am an artist) from wild and garden flowers or other subject matter with guest artists giving demos. Obviously this would depend on the weather.
* 1 Polytunnel to grow out seedlings and show how to sow and grow.
* YouTube videos giving demonstrations and updates on a daily basis of what is happening both in the plots, community gardens and of the visiting wildlife.
Money raised would be used for, Fruit Trees / bushes, polytunnel, raised beds or materials to build them, portacabin/storeroom, hand tools for community use, seeds, labels, rope, stakes, weed fabric, wire mesh and wildlife trail cameras, security, insurance, etc. Additional funding will probably be needed to cover unforeseen costs. Other funding will be looked into through grant opportunities.
Who will benefit from this project?
* Carers and community
* Visitors
* Volunteers
* Viewers on YouTube
My YouTube Channel is... https://www.youtube.com/user/juliedrake23 where you can see what I've done over the last few years and where I've gained much knowledge along the way. I also have several Facebook Pages and groups, e.g. https://www.facebook.com/juliedrakesallotments/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/polytunnelgrowing/
Our website is www.leicestershiregardeningnetwork.co.uk
If insufficient funds are raised to get this project off the ground, the money raised will go towards:
*My allotment upkeep and running the Youtube channel
*My allotment association
*Local work I am involved with, including two orchard projects.
An unusual new project is starting up soon at Wykin. Many people of all ages are now involved in looking after disabled or elderly people. We all know at least one person who looks after elderly parents, and it can be a full time job.
Carers, like the people they serve, need somewhere to relax and 'chill out'. One way of doing this is to learn new skills - and there's nowhere better to do this than in a community garden, finding out how to grow flowers, vegetables and fruit from people who have done it before.
We are therefore looking for people to become involved in this project - and not just carers. People at work know how deadly it can be socialising with colleagues - and it's the same here; we need a significant number who are NOT carers so we get an interesting mix and not too much 'talking shop'.
If you would like to be involved, please get in touch.
All being well we should be up and running at some point in the next few months. We are looking for people who would like to participate REGULARLY in gradually turning a grassed area into a community garden containing flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs; we would like a few people with gardening skills to keep us going in the right direction but the main quality we need is enthusiasm.
The reason I have put this funding page up is because we need to purchase or match funds from grants to purchase a portacabin/tool shed, tools for volunteers plus lots more including 100's of raised beds and the soil to fill them.
My vision is that carers will be able to either participate or visit and take a much needed 1hr or 2 to enjoy the sounds and smells of the countryside, maybe take part in some painting or planting or just sit down and have a much needed tea break. Here is a brief outline of what the project would involve, done in stages:
* Sensory gardens
* Communal plots made up of raised beds
* Fruit Orchard consisting of Leicestershire/UK fruit trees and bushes including Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Loganberries, Raspberries and other lesser-known fruit.
* Workshops on looking after fruit.
* Fruit tasting
* Virtual Gardens for those unable to leave their homes or who live too far away but wish to have some participation.
* Meadowland where wild flowers can grow with grass paths to allow visitors to admire the variety of flora and fauna.
* Scrub to encourage wildlife; bat boxes, bird boxes.
* Pond to encourage frogs, newts and invertebrates which help keep pests at bay and bring harmony.
* Cameras set up in hidden areas to film the wildlife visiting the site.
* Painting workshops (I am an artist) from wild and garden flowers or other subject matter with guest artists giving demos. Obviously this would depend on the weather.
* 1 Polytunnel to grow out seedlings and show how to sow and grow.
* YouTube videos giving demonstrations and updates on a daily basis of what is happening both in the plots, community gardens and of the visiting wildlife.
Money raised would be used for, Fruit Trees / bushes, polytunnel, raised beds or materials to build them, portacabin/storeroom, hand tools for community use, seeds, labels, rope, stakes, weed fabric, wire mesh and wildlife trail cameras, security, insurance, etc. Additional funding will probably be needed to cover unforeseen costs. Other funding will be looked into through grant opportunities.
Who will benefit from this project?
* Carers and community
* Visitors
* Volunteers
* Viewers on YouTube
My YouTube Channel is... https://www.youtube.com/user/juliedrake23 where you can see what I've done over the last few years and where I've gained much knowledge along the way. I also have several Facebook Pages and groups, e.g. https://www.facebook.com/juliedrakesallotments/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/polytunnelgrowing/
Our website is www.leicestershiregardeningnetwork.co.uk
If insufficient funds are raised to get this project off the ground, the money raised will go towards:
*My allotment upkeep and running the Youtube channel
*My allotment association
*Local work I am involved with, including two orchard projects.
Organizer
Julie Drake
Organizer
