Updates
We’re delighted that solar power is now up and running! We’d like to invite all those who contributed to the crowdfund campaign to a little celebration on the afternoon of Saturday 20 July. Come for drinks and nibbles 4pm to 6pm, see the solar panels and meet our wonderful installers, Luke Jeffreys and Ben Venus of Drakes Renewables, who will be available to answer questions about our installation and about solar power in general. RSVP please to ensure we know how many people to provide drinks and chairs for. Please write to [email protected] to obtain your free ‘ticket’ for this event. You can also catch up with the latest developments on site. Lots of things are happening over the summer – a community market on 14 July and again on 15 September, art classes during June and July, kids’ Sunday craft sessions and other holiday activities, and an increasing range of plants for sale. Our expanding team of volunteers will be working over the next three to four months on restoring the rain forest room and classroom to be used for school visits, creating new fruit areas, improving the woodland walk and the garden areas for the public to enjoy. Find out more on www.wolveslane.org. If you fancy a bit of gardening or DIY, we welcome new volunteers any Tuesday between 11 and 4 – whatever your physique or experience, we’ll find something you’d like to do. Contact [email protected] or just turn up any Tuesday around 11 and ask for Leesa or Anne.
You wonderful supporters will be pleased to know we have finally got our solar panels up and switched on! Immense thanks are due to Luke Jeffries and Ben Venus, and their company Drakes Renewables. Luke and Ben installed the panels for us free of charge and offered a big discount on the materials too. On their first day, the panels generated 56 kwh. Come and see them, and the rest of the centre now flourishing in its late spring glory, any Sunday afternoon between noon and 4pm. We plan a celebration soon - probably in July - and you will all be invited, so watch this space for details. Thanks again for your support.
Just to say pledges WILL be collected in the next 2 weeks. So sorry if the delay has confused you - we hit a few bureaucratic hitches when signing up with the GLA to receive the Mayor's money, since they deal with grantees on the same 'supplier database' as commercial contractors and the complexities of this have been hard to sort out. Meanwhile you'll be pleased to know we have secured registration for the FIT scheme and because we are a 'community' project we'll get a few months extra to actually install the solar panels, instead of doing it all by the end of March when the scheme closes for most applicants. That's great news because it gives more time to pick better weather for the outside work! We're now discussing the technical details with our installer and will keep you posted. Meanwhile the palm house plants are surviving quite well despite the cold weather. Do drop by any Sunday afternoon to visit us... and we have a very friendly volunteer team working on Tuesdays if you fancy a spot of gardening or DIY work, either indoors or outdoors. Keep warm and thanks for your patience.
Why hasn't your pledge so far gone out of your bank account? If you're wondering, it WILL still happen in early January. The reason for the delay is that by the time we stopped fund-raising, it was too close to the holiday for the paperwork we need to do with the GLA to be completed before Christmas. Sorry if this is confusing. Gocardless direct debits will be claimed in the New Year. Thanks again for your contributions and have a great Christmas and New Year break.
Whoop, 180 people have pledged since fundraising began!
The Wolves Lane crew are over the moon - a £4,000 pledge from the London born rapper has pushed us over our target for solar panels. We are so grateful for this generous donation. J Hus came in person to see the site in November and toured the Palm House. Even though we have reached our £16,000 you can still pledge! The fund is open until Monday 10th December and we can use extra funds for more improvements on the site. We would also like to acknowledge support from Haringey Council. Come and see us at our Festive Market on sunday 9th December 11am to 5pm.
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
