Waterloo Community Garden C.I.O. Registration Number 1175609
34 Harborough Rd, Great Oxendon, LE16 8NA
Trustee Annual Report, 1st April 2021 to 31[st] March 2022
Structure:
Trustees: Kathleen Stephens Chair of Trustees
Linda Pentland Treasurer
Mark Baverstock Secretary
Judy Rowley
Sarah Wilkinson
There are several other garden volunteers who along with the Trustees make decisions about the day to day running of the garden – planning crops, events, work shops etc
Objectives for 2021/2022
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To maintain and improve the production of organically grown food
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To increase the number of volunteers and visitors to the garden
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To continue and extend the educational aspects of the garden including the benefits of growing food.
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To forge new links with local organisations and businesses
• To make the garden more accessible to people with disabilities and young people and develop links with social prescribers
- Understanding and promoting Planet friendly gardening
Achievements
With the end of restrictions earlier in the year we have been able to do a great deal to get the garden back on track and add new ideas and developments. Earlier in the year six new volunteers came to the garden to try it out. Of these 4 are now regularly weekly members. In addition a previous volunteer returned so we now have 10 regulars with garden sessions taking place a minimum of 3 mornings a week. This has enabled the garden to achieve a great deal:
• all the beds were cultivated and a wide range of crops grown. Fruit was picked from trees and fruit bushes with a particular bumper crop of plums
• we met with social prescribers from the local doctor’s surgery who were interested in using the garden in the future although so far no referrals have been made
• Beavers from the local Scout group visited on 2 occasions to learn about gardening and take part in some activities
• Apple pressing took place over 2 days in October receiving a lot of visitors
• Money was again received from Kelmarsh Windfarm Community Benefit Fund to develop an additional area of the garden into 4 new beds and a wheelchair accessible raised bed
• A brick path using reclaimed bricks was built by garden volunteers
• Links have been established with a company in Northampton who plan to come to the garden in May to undertake a small project. Also with a student wishing to use the garden as part of her D of E.
• We were part of Market Harborough Big Green Week. The garden was open for 2 days and we had talks about medicinal use of herbs and plants and regenerative gardening/farming
At the end of the year Steve Cousins resigned as treasurer and has been replaced by Linda Pentland.
Beginning of 2022 has been quiet as there is less to do in winter months. However several volunteers have continued to meet on Tuesdays/Fridays keeping on top of weeding and general tidying and maintenance jobs. Preparations have been made to make another brick path to go to the polytunnel.
A pruning workshop was held in February. This was well attended with participants learning how to prune fruit trees and bushes.
Potato planting took place with 2 beds of early potatoes planted. Parsnips, beetroot and spinach sown and broad beans overwintered.
Donations have been received from garden volunteers.
Completed April 2022
Waterloo Community Garden
Income and Expenditure Account 1st April 2021 ‐ 31st March 2022
2022
| Restricted | Restricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | funds | Funds | Total | |||
| Donations received at events | £ | 198.10 |
£ | 198.10 |
||
| Grants received | £ | 400.00 |
£ | 400.00 |
||
| Total Income | £ | 400.00 |
£ | 198.10 |
£ | 598.10 |
| Expenses | ||||||
| Seeds and plants | £ | 90.27 |
£ | 90.27 |
||
| Equipment | £ | ‐ |
||||
| Insurance | £ | 130.80 |
£ | 130.80 |
||
| Total Expenses | £ | ‐ |
£ | 221.07 |
£ | 221.07 |
| Surplus | £ | 400.00 |
‐£ | 22.97 |
£ | 377.03 |