Our agreed targets for 2011.........

We would like to wish all our friends, neighbours, partners and funders a very happy and healthy New Year. Thank you for your support throughout 2010, you have helped to make it a fantastic year for us. We are looking forward to working together and in partnership with you all again next year in what we believe will be a very busy, interesting, exciting and fun 2011.

Following details in our recently adopted Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015 our Management Committee have agreed that, among others, our main targets for 2011 include:

• Securing permission from Network Rail to use arches D, E and F
• Confirming work consents from Network Rail, allowing us to provide a secure gated access to arches E and F
• Providing the main pedestrian access route onto the Green Heart Den (heavily reliant on the purchase of 188 Marsh Street - by Barrow Borough Council from Network Rail)
• Increasing the capacity of our Management Committee
• Working to increase our volunteer data base
• Employment of a Project Manager
• Developing income streams
• Development of the north plot community grow your own scheme

Below is the initial north plot community grow your own scheme design as produced by Groundwork landscape architect John Nuttall in consultation with our Management Committee.

Now the hard work begins......................

North Plot boundary wall concerns......

The visibly deteriorting condition of the bondary wall between the north and Marsh Street back street. This wall has been rapidly deteriorating for several years and we continue to be concerned for the structural integrity of the wall and potential risks to public safety. 

Green Heart Den attendances - 2010

We have collated the final total of attendances for 2010. Each individual visit is based on those consiting of a group of 4 or more people who have used or visited the Green Heart Den. Details include:

Number of individual visits: 71
Aged 8-11: 580
Aged 11-16: 90
Aged 16-18: 276
Adult/resident: 650
Agency/Organisation: 235
Total attendances for 2010.......... 1830

A complete breakdown of these totals can be downloaded here.

One of our robins.....

Please visit our recently updated Flickr photosets here.

A little bit of sun....

Feeding our visitors.......

For information about feeding birds in winter, please visit the RSPB website here. 

Happy Christmas.......

We would like to wish all of our friends, neighbours, partners and funders all the very best for Christmas.

Thank you for your consistant support throughout the year, we look forward to working with you all again in the New Year.

Our Green Space - Local educational case study

Recently Our Green Space (OGS) commissioned Amanda McCleary to gather information and capture the educational aspects of the Our Green Space Project, documenting the best case examples from each of the five communities that contribute to the Our Green Space project:

• Asby

• Barrow in Furness (Green Heart Den)

• Burgh by-Sands

• Newbeggin

• Wasdale

For the educational case study for the Green Heart Den Amanda was impressed with, and chose to include details of our work with - Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens, Furness College and our use of multi media.

A copy of the OGS Local Educational Case Studies as produced by Amanda can be downloaded here.

A very generous donation from Thomas Armstrong Construction Ltd

Our Project Coordinator Graham Bromley accepting the extremely generous donation of several pallets of new bricks from Thomas Armstrong Construction Ltd site manager Paul Dixon.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul and all at Thomas Armstrong Construction Ltd. The donation will make a real difference and contribute towards works assocaited with providing a new boundary wall.

Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015

After considering the Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015 as developed and produced in partnership with Mike Brockbank of VCF Solutions our Management Committee have now agreed and adopted the plan.

The strategy is based on:

• Recommendations identified in a previous strategic review
• Contributions from our Management Committee membership during previous strategic plannning workshops facilitated by Mike Brockbank
• Previously identified action plans agreed by our Management Committee
• Recommendations included in a Development Trust Association health check
• Existing policies, procedures and plans
• Our aims and objectives

We would like to thank Mike Brockbank of VCF Solutions for his excellent work, in partnership with our Project Coordinator, in helping to develop and produce the final draft strategic plan for consideration. 

We would also like to thank Our Green Space who prided the funding to enable our work with VCF Solutions.

Marks&Spencer - Green Living Spaces grant success

Marks Spencer today marks the start of the third year of its successful partnership with the environmental charity Groundwork by supporting and confirming a substantial grant towards the development of our north plot community grow you own scheme.

The Greener Living Spaces initiative is funded by the profit from the 5p* M&S charges for food carrier bags. Marks & Spencer has been charging 5p* for food carrier bags in all of its UK stores since May 2008 with the aim of encouraging customers to reduce the number of bags they use. Since then the initiative has:
• reduced M&S food carrier bag usage by 81% from 464 million in 2006/07 to 89 million in 2009/10
• raised £3.6m for Groundwork, which has:
o funded 79 ‘Greener Living Spaces’ projects – excluding the 20 new projects announced today.
o engaged over 10,000 people in local project activity, and a further 1,115 M&S employees.
o improved 562,826 m² of redundant or under used land across the UK, and maintained a further 201,808 m², equivalent to 139 and 50 football pitches respectively.

We would like to thank our project partners, including NHS Cumbria, Furness Locality Healh Improvement Team and Groundwork for all of their support, working in partnership to help secure this successful grant for the development of the north plot community grow your own scheme. It is very much appreciated.

We believe that, among the main health benefits of such as scheme would include; increased opportunities for physical activity, improved mental health and well being and the increased availability of fresh food. We also hope that by working in partnership with health organisation involved in both the mental health and disability sectors it will help to reduce the stigmatisation and isolation that both those suffering with mental health conditions and those with disabilities can feel.

It would also provide an additinal resource for the local community and enhance our other adjacent development - the Green Heart Den.

Julian Smith of Groundwork North East said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC and local residents in their ongoing efforts to make productive use of the derelict land on their doorstep. The development of the North Plot as a community food growing initiative is a tremendous opportunity and the ‘Greener Living Spaces’ grant has been the catalyst for the project. We are building on the tremendous success of the adjacent Green Heart Den project, which created an urban oasis in the heart of residential Barrow. This was a model project demonstrating how a local community can bring together and mobilise local partners to take collective action to improve the quality of their lives. We expect this second phase of activity to be just as successful and the opportunity to develop the site to incorporate opportunities for local food production adds a further exciting dimension to the project.”

If you would like more information about the "Greener Living Spaces" intitiative, please visit the Marks and Spencer website here.

You can find out more about Groundwork by visiting their website here

A wintry scene......

Additional pictures can be viewed on our Flickr photo gallery here

Interview for Building Community website

Barrow Borough Council regeneration officer Val Holden is interviewed by Carl Thompson, editor and camera operator for Hub TV.

Carl had returned to discuss our progress, since he last visited and to take some additional footage of the Green Heart Den for the Building Community website.

Building Community, are following our progress over the next 12 months in regard to the asset transfer of the north plot. Their website is an online showcase featuring real-time practice from partnerships comprising councils and communities that are in the process of transferring land or buildings into community asset ownership. The films are made in conjunction with the Asset Transfer Unit which is led and managed by the Development Trust Association.

BDDA - BDDA Christmas Grotto 2010

BDDA- What's on: BDDA Christmas Grotto 2010: "If you’re in need of a good dose of festive cheer, why not visit our annual Christmas Grotto, held at the Centre in School Street, Barrow. 11am to 3pm, Saturday 4th December & Sunday 5th December 2010 ..."

Signal Films, additional filming

Signal Films Project Manager May Davies taking some additional film footage as a follow up to our previous work with the art and design students from Furness College. In particular their work in providing the design for gates to arch D which formed part of the "Involving Schools and Colleges in Barrow Urban Regeneration" project.

Junior Wardens Film

Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens Film, as premiered during the Award ceremony at Forum 28.


The film was produced by Morph Films.

Funding to enable production of the video was provided by Our Green Space - a Cumbria-wide three-year partnership project running until December 2011. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s 'Your Heritage' grant scheme.

Junior Wardens Presentation

Congratulations to Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens on receiving their John Muir Award and ASDAN accreditation during the Film Premiere and Awards Ceremony at Forum 28. Fantastic.

Inspiring......

Greengate Street bridge parapet......

Although the picture may not demonstrate the lean angle fully, our Project Coordinator is growing increasingly concerned with the deteriorating condition of the parapet on Greegate Street bridge. Although the bridge structure between Marsh Street and the railway line is in poor conditiongenerally, the parapet above the railway line appears to be leaning outwards.

"Can you see me"..........

Our snow.........awaking the inner child

To view additional pictures please visit our Flickr galleries here

Community - led spaces....

Community - led spaces is a new publication produced by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment), in collaboration with the ATU (Asset Transfer Unit).

Community-led spaces: a guide for local authorities and community groups is an introduction to the issues involved in transferring ownership and management of public space from local authorities to community groups, based on the learning from a range of case studies across England.

Download and/or order a free copy on the CABE website here

You can visit the Asset Transfer Unit website here

Greengate Bridge - minor works progress

AMCO Rail contractors have been steadily progressing minor works associated with Greengate Street bridge structure.

Central and Hindpool Inspiring Communities: Volunteering works ...

Central and Hindpool Inspiring Communities: Volunteering works ...: "Cumbria CVS (Barrow) latest volunteering workshop takes place on 14 December 2010. Click on the image to enlarge for more information."

AMCO Rail begin minor works

Contractors from AMCO Rail begin minor works associated with the Greengate Street bridge structure.

Minor works to Greengate bridge structure

Tom Clark and contractors from AMCO Rail preparing to conduct the minor works assocaited with previously highlighted concerns regarding the deteriorating condition of the Greengate Street bridge structure. In particular water seepage, condition of the brickwork and vegetation growing in the structure.

Favourite picture memories - part 7

One of our slow worms.

                       .............and "Hiccup" the hedgehog

Policy and procedure update and review

Recently we have been conduction the annual review of current policies and producing additional policies and procedures as needed and as recommended by the Development Trust Association. The final draft policies will be reviewed by Cumbria CVS in Barrow before they are circulated, for consideration, to the Management Committee for adoption during the 8th December meeting.

These policies and procedures include:

• Review and update of our current Environmental Policy - to include a system to manage and monitor our activities. In consideration of and taking into account both EMAS the Eco-management and audit scheme and ISO 14001 the International Organisation for Standardisation scheme Disciplinary Procedure - based on the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) model
• Support worker policy - as developed in collaboration with Cumbria CVS in Barrow
• Performance Management -  with reference to National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and the Personnel, Employment Advice and Conciliation Service

Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015

Would like to thank Mike Brockbank of VCF Solutions for his hard with our Project Coordinator in helping to develop and produce a final draft strategic plan.

The strategy, with contribution in part from Development Trust Assocaition Officer Jackie McQueen, is based on:

• Recommendations identified in a previous strategic review
• Contributions from our Management Committee membership during previous strategic plannning workshops
• Previously identified action plans agreed by our Management Committee
• Recommendations included in a Development Trust Association health check
• Existing, adopted policies, procedures and plans
• Our aims and objectives 

The final draft strategic plan 2011 - 2015 was circulated to our Management Committee on 15th November to allow time for the Committee to consider the document before it is presented as an agenda item for adoption at our 8th December meeting.
 
Funding to enable our work with VCF Solutions was provided from Our Green Space.
 

Some of our Holly berries.......

A little autumn colour......

One of our little blue birds.....

..............enjoying the coconut bird feeder.

Favourite picture memories - part 6

Various wildlife pictures can be viewed on our Flickr gallery here.



Strategic planning.......

Pictured in the Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management Office are Project Coordinator Graham Bromley and consultant Mike Brockbank from VCF Solutions working to develop and complete our five year draft strategic plan in the.

The final draft plan will be submitted to our Management Committee for considertion and agreement at our their next meeting in December. Among the various themes in the draft will include, goals and aspirations, annual targets, objective based action plans and a Development Trust Assocation (DTA) Health check.

Funding to enable our work with VCF Solutions was provided by Our Green Space

Barrow & District Disability Association - a generous donation

We would like to thank Margaret Burrow and all at
  Barrow and District Disability Association centre for the very generous donation a metal storage cupboard. It was very much appreciated.

We would also like to thank wardens from
Central Hindpool Neighbourhood Management and Ron for helping to deliever the cupboard. We could not have done it without you.

Favourite picture memories - part 5

....................Before

                      ................After



Barrow 6th Form College student visit

Fantastic to meet tutor Colin Aldred and Foundation art and design students from Barrow 6th Form College. Many of the 18 - 19 year old students will be attending university next year on an art and design course and Colin had arranged the meeting to allow the students an opportunity to learn a little more about grass routes, community driven regeneration projects.

Initial north plot conceptual drawing

Following an initial onsite meeting to discuss our proposals for the north plot, Groundwork Landscape Architect John Nuttall has produced an initial conceptual type drawing which demonstrates one design option.  Although the details included may change, the initial drawings will form the basis of our work in developing and agreeing the final design. A final design would also take into account a potential phased development process as the completete scheme would rely heavily on our ability to secure appropriate funding. Once a final drawing has been agreed we will be able to cost the design and decide what we can do, based on funding received, and what we need to leave until later when we have secured additional funding. Dependant on the final costs and confirmation of funding streams, it may be that the completed project will need to be delivered in stages.

Central and Hindpool Inspiring Communities: Youth Work Celebration Day!

Central and Hindpool Inspiring Communities: Youth Work Celebration Day!: "Lots on offer for young people at the Forum, Saturday 6 November 2010 11am-2pm. So please tell everyone about Saturday and bring along some..."

Pruning the mint in the raised planters

Before the trim........

...........and after the trim

Confirmation of Additional Funding

We would like to thank Barrow Borough Councils Executive Committe who agreed to allocate £15,000 from the Housing Market renewal Fund to assist with the development of the arches and the north plot.

Additional details can be found on the NorthWest Evening Mail website here.

Thank you to all concerned.

"My relaxing Day at the Green Heart Den"

"My relaxing Day at the Green Heart Den" A brief video produced by Furness College creative media students Robert Plumb and Robert Trevena.

Judging the creative media students short films

Top row, left to right: Adam Thompson, Robert Trevena, Ben Collett, Becca Hunter and David Parry.

Bottom row, left to right: Furness College creative media tutor Mark Preston, our Project Coordinator Grahamn Bromley, Robert Plumb and Ben Tomlinson.

Huge thank you to Mark and all the creative media students.

Junior Warden John Muir Award acitvity

Videos taken during the most recent Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens, John Muir Award activity. Funding for the video filming was provided by Our Green Space.



Asset Transfer Unit/Hub TV visit

Carl Thompson, editor and camera operator for Hub TV and Sarah Eustace from the Asset Transfer Unit.

Sarah and Carl had returned to discuss our progress since they last visited in August and take some additional footage of the Green Heart Den for the Building Community website.

Building Community, are following our progress over the next 12 months in regard to the asset transfer of the north plot. Their website is an online showcase featuring real-time practice from partnerships comprising councils and communities that are in the process of transferring land or buildings into community asset ownership. The films are made in conjunction with the Asset Transfer Unit which is led and managed by the Development Trust Association.

It is hoped that during their next visit they could meet other members of the project and representatives of partner organisations, such as Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management, Junior Wardens Scheme and Streetsafe.

Favourite picture memories - part 4

Rabbits rescued from a delivery of chippings during the construction of the Green Heart Den.

The rabbits were kept warm until they were collected by the RSPCA.

The rabbits were eventually released back into the wild.

Our Neighbourhood Manager prepares to be interviewed

Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Manager Steven Robson prepares to be interviewed by Darren Conway of Morph Films

Steve was being interviewed in regard to the history of the Junior Wardens scheme. The interview will be incorporated into the film Darren is producing about our work in partnership with the Junior Wardens. Funding for the film is provided by Our Green Space.