Garden Report 2024/25
Our Blaise Garden goes from strength to strength, benefitting both the local community that it serves, and t the mental and physical well-being of the volunteers themselves. Many of our 50 or so supporters have no garden of their own or come with no prior experience/ confidence in their gardening abilities but are keen to gain these. But at the same time, many new arrivals also bring in specialist skills or knowledge which help the site to develop.
A robust governance system has been is in place with bi-monthly Trustees meetings interspersed with monthly General Meetings for any members to discuss matters of concern and get encouragement and praise for successful outcomes. Health and Safety is taken seriously and is a standing agenda item at all meetings when incidents are reported and actioned.
Monthly cafe open days and Spring and Winter Fairs continue to bring in large numbers of visitors, musicians wishing to rehearse and stall holders selling local craft items. Many of those coming have visited many times before as well as thoser who have heard about us from friends or family.
As evidenced through our accounts, income fromn refreshments and plant sales, despite our modest pricing, provides the bulk of our funds for running the charity: without the selfless efforts of our volunteers with their time, their cake baking and plant selling efforts, the Garden could not afford to maintain what we do.
Developments over the course of the year
The beehives have been moved to a restricted area of the garden, overseen by an experienced beekeeper.
Signage has been added around the ponds and parents of small children are routinely alerted to them on entry.
There has been large scale disposal of greenhouse broken glass inherited from previous Council use of the site.
Work has started on mini orchard in the original Council carpark area.
Revamping of perennial border area.
On-going repair of boundary gates.
Increased use of the Garden for external community groups (art therapy, mucial rehearsals, weekly visits by mental health charity) as well as our contribution to other groups (local fairs and flower shows).
We also offer volunteer days out for local companies.
The reglazing of our large historic greenhouse is underway (as funds allow) and quotes are being received for the repair of derelict buildings on the site.
Blaise Community Garden
Financial Statement 2024-25
| Income | Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants | £0.00 | Buildings | £1772.57 |
| Events | £5842.92 | Equipment | £1132.51 |
| Donations | £453.61 | Electricity | £438.94 |
| Plant Sales | £3939.05 | Plants/Seeds | £500.95 |
| Loans | £0.00 | Events/Catering | £770.91 |
| Miscellaneous | £1802.25 | Compost etc | £1141.44 |
| Insurance | £632.95 | ||
| Zettle Charges | £73.83 | ||
| Miscellaneous | £1969.75 | ||
| Totals | £12037.83 | £8433.83 | |
SURPLUS: £3604.00 Brought Forward: £5327.47 Carried Forward: £8931.47
Cash donations were mailnly given by various groups for the use of our premises. Donations in kind, including the large number of cakes donated by volunteers and friends for our Café Days are not included in the numbers, but a record is kept. The miscellaneous columns include payments to exhibiting artists using our card payment facility and returned to them minus a small commission; in addition the money given by market stall holders is entered here.
The miscellaneous expenditure column reflects the fact that we have been upgrading our ‘Cabin’ used as ‘refuge’ by the volunteers and doubling up as venue for our Café Days.
The miscellnaous Expenditure Column also include fees for various organations to which we are affilliated, as well as our internet provider.
A loan of £5000.00 made to the charity on January 18th 2022 was converted to a donation on January 15th 2025 but has figured in the accounts since the date of the loan