The idea
The aim eventually is to convert an unused area alongside the club into a community green space. Which will not only benefit club members, but all of the wider community,learning the history of the fruit garden, it's about telling people about a time not so long ago when everyone had these bushes in their gardens to feed their families, by identifying, picking and tasting the fruits.the unpicked fruit will be left to feed the insects and birds..its a low maintenance garden only needing minimum attention pruning and feeding plants..
by extending the current beer garden into a large enclosed area full of planters with heritage soft fruit bushes eg gooseberries, blackcurrants, logan berries, tay berries,all which are becoming rare. Most local children will never have seen fruit growing on bushes.we believe cuttings for these can be obtained by appealing to local gardeners and allotment holders, this appeal will also help publicise what we are hoping to do.
What we'll deliver
- Add new fencing and gates to extend the usable area
- Add support to stabilised the building
- furnish outdoor space with additional seating
- Source cuttings begin growing the plants ready for fruit garden
- Share our project with all local schools and groups
Why it's a great idea
A community hub for all which includes a heritage garden of soft fruit bushes. Where children adults all groups can learn about this disappearing history, where everybody grew these plants to feed there families during and after the war. It will also benefit birds and insect life because unpicked fruit will be left to feed them. The enclosed extended space can be available for all groups to use and eventually by stage 3 will have toilets running water and a renovated pigeon shed full of historical facts about digging for victory and the history of the shed and homing pigeons as well as being an indoor space which can be used for classes, talks meetings anything the community needs
Steps to get it done
- engage a contractor to replace fence
- refurbish out building
- purchase furniture
In order to be manageable our project is divided into three stages..
Stage 1
Extend existing beer garden with substantial metal fencing and lockable gates.This will add approximately 200 square meters to the usable area, at least 6 lots of extra seating will be needed. This seating could be available to be sponsored with remembrance plaques for friends or family who have passed. Also to add a metal support frame to reinforce the structure of the pigeon shed inside[this was a shed used as a base for the homing pigeon society..not an actual pigeon loft] it is now used for storage but to ensure it doesn't deteriorate, it is a precast building and has some cracks appearing which will be stabilised using the metal frame and plates, until we can fund a full renovation.
