New hose and sprinklers

Trying out the new hose and sprinkler system on the Green Heart Den.

The equipment was provided as part of a grant we received from Cumbria County Councils Local Committee for Barrow. Thank you.

New Members and Directors

Following agreement at our Management Committee meeting earlier today we are please to confirm new, valued Members and Directors of the Company.

New Members of the Company:

• Rebecca Rawlings
• Andy High
• Paul Zaccarini
• Phil Robson

New Director of the Company:

• Steve Robson

..................Fantastic.

Please see the Membership application form below if you would like to become a valued Member of the Marsh Street Arches and Garden Community Interest Company. It costs nothing to become a Member and there are many benefits such as:

• Be first to receive regular news and updates.
• Have a “first option” in invitations to events, activities and potential training etc.
• Have a say in the management and the future of the Company.
• Be able to vote at Members meetings.
• Be able to stand as a Company Director.
• Receive the accounts of the Company.

You can download a copy of the Membership application form here

Connexions - BBC News interview on the Green Heart Den

Staff and young people from Connexions on the Green Heart Den while being interviewed by BBC News in regard to their involvement with the National Citizens Scheme
This involvement will include;
Week 1; in the Lake District taking on adventure challenges and developing leadership skills with expert instructors from the Outward Bound Trust http://outwardbound.org.uk/
Week 2; living with your team-mates close to your own community, getting a taste of what adult life is really like and learning about issues in your area.
Week 3; living back at home but working during the day with your team-mates to plan a social action project – something that will benefit your local community such as an environmental project, charity event or a service for local people.
Arriving on the north plot and accessing the Green Heart Den via arch D

Preparing for the interview

                                            
                                      The interview

National Citizen Service is starting this year for the first time. This summer it will be available in just a few places in England, and Cumbria is one of them.
In the future, National Citizen Service is planned to be offered to all 16 year olds as they finish Year 11. You could be one of the first young people in the country to experience National Citizen Service.
There are a limited number of place still available on the scheme, if you are interested please call into the Connexions Office at 237-241 Dalton Road, Barrow in Furness or contact Connexions on 0800 435 709

Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management: “Walk and be happy, walk and be healthy” – Charles...

Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management: “Walk and be happy, walk and be healthy” – Charles...: "The 'Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival' programme dates announced. The Sunday Times on 21st June 2009 declared this ..."

Some of our favourite FREE activities............enjoyed by local children

Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens -  horticulture training -  as facilitated by staff from Growing Well.

FREE family sessions - Aiming high for children with disabilities in Furness.

Greengate Junior School "Outdoor classroom"

Some of our favourite FREE events............enjoyed by the community

Official naming ceremony.....

Summer in the Garden......

                                 
                                           Christmas in the Garden........

Barrow’s Wildside Events - June and July

Barrow's Wildside is an exciting new project that aims to improve green spaces in Barrow for wildlife and the local community. Being outside and closer to nature improves your well being too! Loads of exciting plans are being planned for young and old alike. You and your family can get involved in walks, training, practical conservation work.

Summer Wildlife Surveys in Barrow

Wed 13 July - Park Road Woods - meet car park near former Owl Centre off Park Rd.

Wed 27 July - North Scale meadows - meet Fire Station, Mill Lane, Walney SD 181 693

Thurs 4 August – Biggar Bank – meet the Roundhouse, Walney SD 178 675

Events and activities

Sun 19 June

‘The amazing wildlife of South Walney Nature Reserve’

Guided walk looking at waders and wildfowl. Bring binoculars if you have them. Meet South Walney Nature Reserve. Grid reference SD 204 632. Cumbria Wildlife Trust 01229 471066

Sat 2 July 10-12noon

'North Walney Beach Clean'

Your chance to do your bit. Equipment provided, suitable for children aged 8 and over. Meet at West Shore/Earnsea Bay car park. Grid reference SD 171 698. Organised by Natural England 07786 482884

Thurs 7 July 9.30pm-11pm

'What glows in the dark?'

Guided walk to Foulney Island Nature Reserve, hopefully to see female glow worms. Bring a torch, suitable for aged 8 and over. Meet in the car park Foulney Island Resrve. Grid reference SD 234 655.Organised by Cumbria Wildlife Trust 01229 471066

FREE trip to award winning allotments

A free Design Café minibus day trip to 'Tindall St & Lorne St Allotment Association', Eccles - Saturday 2nd July

Are you waiting for an allotment? Are you interested in finding out about what it takes to set up a self-managed allotment group in your community? This is your chance to join a trip to a prize-winning allotment group. The founders of the allotments will be there to answer your questions about how they started and what it took to succeed. They will also show us around the site where we will meet with other allotment holders.
Tindall Street is the first allotment site in the north of England to receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and The Green Pennant Award for high quality green spaces in England.

Booking: As seats will go quickly please book now by any of the following:

Ringing or texting Steve Harris on 07946126412

Ringing the Art Gene office in Barrow 01229 825085

Email artgenesteve@btconnect.com

Book at www.artgene-designcafe.com

On the day: Please be prompt - we leave at 10.00 am.

Please bring clothing and footwear appropriate to weather conditions. Meet at Art Gene car park, Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road, Barrow in Furness LA14 5TY. Disabled Facilities: Some parts of Tindall Street Allotments are accessible by wheelchair but this is not the case for the tour element of the trip.

Please join us.......and we can grow together

Please see the Membership application form below if you would like to become a valued Member of the Marsh Street Arches and Garden Community Interest Company.  It costs nothing to become a Member and there are many benefits such as: 

• Be first to receive regular news and updates.
• Have a “first option” in invitations to events, activities and potential training etc.
• Have a say in the management and the future of the Company.
• Be able to vote at Members meetings.
• Be able to stand as a Company Director.
• Receive the accounts of the Company.

Alternatively you can download the Membership application form here
Download a copy of our Memorandum and Articles of Association here

Grow your own scheme

Following recent confirmation of a long term lease and additional funding from Barrow Borough Council we will are actively progressing the development of the north plot “community grow your own scheme”; working closely with new partners such as - Groundwork, Local Health Improvement Team and Mark and Spencer who have also provided funding towards delivery of the scheme.
Please find a links to the north plot grow your own scheme planning application on the Barrow Borough Council planning page on Twitter here and on the Barrow Borough Council website here

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.

You can view and download a copy of the grow your own scheme user policy here.

Some of our favourite wildlife visitors

Peacock butterfly

 

                     Red Admiral butterfly

Slow worm

                                                         Calder bumblebee

You can view additional widlife pictures on our Flickr photo set here

An introduction to wildflower identification............'

Sunday 12 June 11-1pm 'An introduction to wildflower identification'. Take a walk and learn more about how to identify a range of plants. Bring a hand lens/magnifier if you have one. Meet Sandscale Haws car park, Roanhead. (Grid reference SD 200 756). Organised by The National Trust. If you would like more information please call: 01229 462 855

National Willdflower Centre visit.............

Saturday 11 June – FREE day trip to the National Wildflower Centre at Liverpool, this is organised by Art Gene. You can find out more information or book a place on this trip by contacting Steve Harris on 0794 612 6412 or Maddi Nicholson on 01229 825085.

The National Wildflower Centre run a seasonal visitor attraction that showcases wildflowers in a natural environment with lots of ideas that you can replicate at home.  They provide information and raise awareness about the importance of wildflowers, and encourage people to learn about the creation and management of new wildflower habitats.

Gardening against the odds.....

The Conservation Foundation and the Daily Telegraph have just launched their 2011 Gardening Against the Odds awards – these awards honour those who have overcome physical and psychological difficulties to create gardens that bring joy to all - it would be great to see an Ecominds project win!
WHAT IS 'GARDENING AGAINST THE ODDS’?

Entries can be from, or on behalf of, individual gardeners or small communities who have created a beautiful garden (of any size) or green corner that touches the lives of others. This year there will be two categories: individual gardeners and groups. The obstacles overcome may include the following:

1. Creating a garden in an unlikely or inhospitable corner – such as a derelict site or built-up area.

2. Gardening in the face of physical health problems.

3. Gardening in the face of mental or psychological health problems such as depression or grief.

To enter and find out more details of the awards see the Telegraph’s website here.

Barrow Growing: Gardening for wildlife.....

Barrow Growing: Saturday 13 Aug – ‘Gardening for Wildlife’, FREE workshop run by Cumbria Wildlife Trust about encouraging wildlife in your growing space. Workshop will run from 9.30-12noon at Neighbourhood Management office, 242-244 Dalton Rd (opposite Connexions). Ring Rebecca on 01229 876546 to book a place.

Barrow Growing..........

Barrow Growing "We love growing our own fruit, vegetables and herbs and we want to help you grow yours and learn more about growing our own - we know there's a wealth of knowledge and support out there ... let's get together and use it! Looking forward to hearing from you ......."

Barrow Growing would like to hear from people who are interested in growing their own and want to be part of an informal network to support, encourage and inspire each other.

If you would like more information please contact:  neighbourhoodmgt@barrowbc.gov.uk

Alternatively you can follow them on Facebook here.

Network Rail Arches update

Although disappointed that we have not as yet confirmed a tenancy agreement for the arches with Network RaiL, we are still hopeful that, by working together and in partnership with various organisation inculding; Network Rail, the Development Trust Assocaition and the Asset Transfer Unit  we will eventually reach mutually agreeable terms and conditons for a proposed tenancy of the arches.
This would be the culmination of several years voluntary hard work in which we have,  by working together and in partnership with others helped to care for and improve the visible appearance of the previously unsecure and derelict condition of arch D, as the pictures below may help to demonstrate.
This arch and other arches were previously and regulalry used for anti - social and criminal activity such as; drug mis - use, anti social drinking and arson.

Arch D (south) before.

Arch D (south) as it is today

Arch D (north) before

Arch D (north) as it is today

View from inside arch D looking south (before)

View from inside arch D looking south (after)

.....................................Together we can help to make a difference.

Bat watch event

Bat watch event for Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens. The event, facilitated by Cumbria Wildlife Trust officer Sue Thurley, consisted of an indoor session at Greengate Junior School followed by a visit to the Green Heart Den to watch bats.

Our new brochure for 2011

Alternatively you can view and download our 2011 brochure here.