Preparing to plant additional bulbs

Garden bulbs ready for planting by our team of valued volunteers. Varieties include: crocus, snow drops, blue bells, dwarf daffodil, scilla and chionodoxa.

We would like to thank Cumbria County Councils, Local Area Committee for Barrow for providing the funding to enable the purchase of the garden bulbs and associated supplies.

Quote for the week.....

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;  they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” - Marcel Proust

Barrow Community Trust/Cumbria Community Foundation cheque presentation

Mr Derek Lyon from Barrow Community Trust presents Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC Director Scott Gomersall of SDG Accountants with a cheque from Cumbria Community Foundation. This will enable the purchase of a poly tunnel for the community grow your own scheme. Pictured left to right are: Volunteer Bryan Aspin, our Volunteer Coordinator Lynda Lea Shaw, Mr Lyon, volunteer David Hayes, Scott Gomersall and our Project Coordinator Graham Bromley.

Thank you to all who made this possible, it was very much appreciated.

Autumn colour on the Green Heart Den.......

You can view additional pictures on our Flickr Autumn/Winter photo set here.

Greengate Junior school - outdoor classroom session

Staff and pupils from Greengate Junior school during their "outdoor classroom" session. During their visit the pupils learnt a little more about the history of  project from our Project Coordinator Graham Bromley, took part in an A - Z scavenger hunt activity and took a closer look at the adjacent railway arches as part of a classroom project in which they will make models of the arches.

Thank you to all at the school, it was a most enjoyable visit.

Back street bats.........

Pipistrelle bats flying in the back street 30/08/10.



The UK's bat populations have suffered severe declines, largely due to loss of habitat. Human activities have increasingly and continue to change the environment we live in resulting in substantial declines in biodiversity.

 However, bats are fascinating animals and make a substantial contribution to the UK's biodiversity, comprising around one third of all our mammal species. They are a vital part of our native wildlife and are indicators of a green and healthy environment, so their future is directly linked to our quality of life and the quality of our environment.

If you would like more information about bats, please visit the Bat Conservation Trust website here.

A brief photo history of the Junior wardens........

A brief photo history of Central and Hindpool Junior wardens based in Barrow in Furness. Established in 2007 and consisting of pupils from years 5 and 6 (9-11 year old) from four Junior schools in Barrow town centre area.





Video courtesy of Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management Team

Quote for the week..........

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm....As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others" - Audrey Hepburn

Just a thought........

"If nothing ever changed.........there would be no butterflies" - Anon

Memories of summer

Community grow your own scheme update

Over the past few months we have secured a long term 85 year land lease from the local authority, agreed a tenancy agreement with Network Rail for the use of 4 adjacent railway arches and also worked closely with:

• Barrow Borough Council, who helped to provide funding which enabled the installation of a new brick wall
• Thomas Armstrong Ltd, who constructed the new wall and donated bricks to the project 
• Our Green Space, who funded the works associated with the installation of the new railings and gates
• Gilmour Fabriucations Ltd, who fabricated and installed the new railings and gates
• Ecologist Penny Ward during the phase 1 habitat survey and following her instruction have, with assistance for our valued team of volunteers and Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management Team wardens, completed the installation a reptile fence in preparation for the commencement of the construction works.

Groundwork, on behalf of Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC, are responsible for the delivery of the community grow your own scheme in their role as:

• The Accountable Body, Groundwork will be responsible for issues such as fund raising, fund management, submitting funding bids, drawing down funding and paying contractors. They have confirmed funding from various sources such as; Marks and Spencer, WREN, BBC Communities for Health, Cumbria Waste Management Environmental Trust and NHS Cumbria.
• Project Managers, working on behalf of the Marah Street Arches and Garden CIC, Groundworks responsibility will include among other issues; the provision of landscape design services, producing all necessary contract documentation and specifications, organising the tendering process, overseeing and supervising all work onsite, inspecting progress and ensuring quality of workmanship.

If you have any questions for the Groundwork Project Management Team you can contact them at:

• Julian Smith, Operations Manager (Cumbria): julian.smith@groundwork.org.uk Tel: 01900 825 215
• John Nuttall, Consultant Landscape Architect: john.nuttall@groundwork.org.uk Tel: 01388 662 666
• Linda Doyle, Senior Project Officer (Cumbria): linda.doyle@groundwork.org.uk Tel: 01900 825 215

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 our grow your own scheme user policy here

Community grow your own scheme raised planter allocations

Although availability is limited there are still some raised planters available for allocation on the soon to be completed north plot community grow your own scheme.

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.

For reference, you can view and download the grow your own scheme user policy here.

Although availability is limited, you can still express your interest in the potential use of a raised planter in writing, by post to:

Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC

c/o CHNMT Office

242/244 Dalton Road

Barrow in Furness

LA14 1PN

or by email to: greenheartden@aol.com

Our new compost bin

Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens helping us to construct our new compost bin.

Thank you all, it was very much appreciated.

Policy and Procedures

Since forming the Marsh Street Arches and Garden Community Interest Company we have worked in partnership with Cumbria CVS in developing and adopting various policies and procedures. To view some of our policies, please click on the appropriate links below.

Volunteer Policy
Volunteer Application Form
Volunteer Agreement
Volunteer Review
Volunteer Exit Procedure
Confidentiality Declaration
Problem Solving Procedure

Data Protection Policy
Child Protection Policy
Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
Equal Opportunities Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Environmental Policy

Our Green Space - Education Pack case study

Developed and produced by Our Green Space, the education pack is intended to help teachers, youth workers and others who use local open green space as part of an "outside classroom" to help develop activities and projects with children and young people on open green space in their local area.

It is primarily aimed at key stages 2 and 3. However some activities work well with Foundation, key stages 1 and 4 and adults and can be adapted as necessary. It can also be used for schools during residential periods and for out of school clubs, for informal education.

A case study highlighting how the Green Heart Den has worked with young people is detailed on page 76.

You can download the education pack and other resources from the Our Green Space website here.

New trellis to the back street wall

Big thank you to valued volunteers Bryan, David and John for helping to make and install the new trellis on the back street wall adjacent to the lawn area, it was very much appreciated.

Thank you to Cumbria County Councils Local Area Committee for Barrow for providing the funding which enable the purchase of materials and associated supplies for the trellis.

Our Green Space Celebratory Event 11th November

The Our Green Space Case Study and Celebration event at Roundthorn Country House Penrith.
The event celebrated the work of the five Cumbrian communities who contributed to the Our Green Space scheme (Green Heart Den in Barrow in Furness, Burgh by Sands, Wasdale, Asby and Newbiggin).

Bug hunting with the Junior Wardens

 Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens on the Green Heart Den bug hunting using identification charts as supplied by Our Green Space.

Aerial photography

Aerial photography detailing the location of the Green Heart Den and the north plot.

Photographs courtesy of Peter A. Lewis.

Funding to enable the aerial photography was provided by Our Green Space.

Junior Warden activities - 12 Nov 2011

Junior Warden activities - 12 Nov 2011, a set on Flickr.

Activities for the Junior Wardens on the Green Heart Den included; litter picking, assembling a wooden compost bin, putting a hedgehog box in the wildlife area and bug hunting using identification charts as supplied by Our Green Space.

Celebrating Our Green Space - Cumbria

Pictures detailing the work of the 5 Cumbria communities who contribute to the Our Green Space project (Green Heart Den in Barrow in Furness, Asby, Wasdale, Burgh by Sands and Newbiggin)



Our Green Space is a Cumbria wide partnership project supported by heritage Lottery Funds "Your Heritage" grants scheme and aims to celebrate and enhance the heritage, cultural, environmental and community value of community spaces in Cumbria for all to enjoy

Helping hedgehogs

Hedgehog populations have declined by a quarter over the past decade and they need help. You can help by providing suitable shelter and supplementing their natural diet of slugs, snails, beetles, worms, caterpillars and suchlike with some protein (e.g. meat based pet food, minced meat or crunchy hedgehog/cat biscuits), particularly in periods of unseasonable weather. You could also provide a bowl of drinking water (not milk)  at several sites around the garden.

For more information about hedgehogs, please visit the British Hedgehog Preservation Society website here and/or the Hedgehog Street website here.

Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna, a set on Flickr.