Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year

We would like to thank our friends; neighbours, partners, sponsors and funders for their continued support throughout the year and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Christmas holiday refuse collection arrangements

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY REFUSE COLLECTION ARRANGEMENTS

• Normal Collection Day Thursday 25 December - will be collected on Saturday 27 December
• Normal Collection Day Friday 26 December - will be collected on Sunday 28 December
• Monday 29 December - Normal arrangements
• Tuesday 30 December - Normal arrangements
• Wednesday 31 December - Normal arrangements
• Normal Collection Day Thursday 1 January - will be collected on Friday 2 January
• Normal Collection Day Friday 2 January - will be collected on Saturday 3 January

Barrow Borough Council Xmas holiday opening hours 2014

What to do in December - Free advice from Vertical Veg

Vertical Veg offers free advice on how you can maintain outdoor winter crops and keep up a fresh supply of, nutritious food by moving some of your growing inside.

For more information please visit their website here

Cadas pop up shop

Barrow & District Disability Association - Santa's Grotto

Skipton Building Societys Grassroots Giving funding success

We would like to thank all those who voted for us in Skipton Building Societys Grassroots Giving Initiative in which they asked the public to vote on who they believe should be awarded £500 funding. The winning groups were announced this morning and we are pleased to confirm, that with your valued support, we have been successful with our application. Thank you.

For more information and a full list of winners please visit the Skipton Building Society website here

Growing garlic - free advice fromThompson and Morgan

"Knowing when to plant garlic is important to help you get the best crops. Garlic is best planted between November and April although you will generally get a bigger and better crop if you plant it in the autumn......................."

For more information please visit the Thompson and Morgan website here

 

Large white caterpillars feeding on some of our nasturtiums

Early morning dew

Woodland Trust free tree packs for schools, communities and youth groups

"The Woodland Trust have over 3,000 free tree packs to give away to schools, communities and youth groups for spring 2015. The tree packs have been generously funded by lead partners Sainsbury’s, IKEA FAMILY and Biffa Award, also funded by WHSmith, Wilko and players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

August 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War and they would like you to take part in a once-in-a-generation tribute for those who lived and served, by creating a growing legacy that will stand tall for centuries to come.

Over the next four years they're offering more than three million free trees to help communities, schools and youth groups create special, living memorials.

About the tree packs:

There are a range of packs available in quantities of 30, 105 or 420 trees.

The trees are young saplings about 20 - 40cm high and tree protection is recommended"

"The closing date for spring applications is scheduled for 7 January 2015, but offers may close earlier if over-subscribed, so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. All applications will be reviewed independently and packs will be delivered to successful applicants in March 2015"

More information can be found on the Woodland trust website here.

Fallen fruit......

Barrow and District Disability Association job vacancy

BARROW AND DISTRICT DISABILITY ASSOCIATION 

Part-time DISABILITY ADVICE AND BENEFITS ADVISER (21 hours pw) to June 2016

Salary £19,817 (pro rata)

The Association is looking for a fourth member to join our Disability Advice and Benefits Service.  The person will be required to provide general and more complex disability information and advice and welfare benefits advice, including preparation of appeals to a wide range of clients.

Applicants must have an in-depth knowledge of disability and welfare benefits and eligibility criteria, and experience of advising clients on these.  Knowledge of the appeals process would be an advantage.

The successful applicant will be required to work Monday, Thursday and Friday 9.00am to 5pm with one hour for lunch, and will be a driver with access to a car.

Applicants should provide a c.v, letter of application and names and addresses of two referees.  

Further details of the post available from the Projects Officer, 71 – 77 School Street, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1EJ, telephone 01229 432599 or debbierobley2@btconnect.com.  

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 12^th November, 2014.

How to grow garlic in containers video with Thompson & Morgan

Autumn colour

A small white butterfly enjoying our late flowering phacelia

October jobs in the edible container garden - advice from Vertical Veg

"October is a time of change in the container garden. We say a fond farewell to our warm weather friends – the tomatoes, chillies, runner beans etc – and welcome in the cool weather crops like rocket and kale"

Vertical Veg offers free advice for October jobs in the - edible container garden at: http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/what-to-do-in-october/

Choosing the right strawberry plant - Free advice from Gardeners World

“You can buy strawberries all year round in supermarkets but, even in season, they're expensive and rarely taste as good as home-grown fruits. They're ideal for growing in containers on a patio or balcony - plant five in a 45 cm diameter pot or up to 10 in a growing bag. Plants should fruit well for three or four years”

Discover which type of strawberry plant is best for you, in Gardeners World Magazine at: http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/features/fruit-veg/choosing-strawberry-plants/5035.html

Its beginning to look a lot like autumn

Love Barrow Awards - nominate someone today

All the leaves are brown.......

A Red Admiral butterfly basking in the autumn sun

All you ever wanted to know about dragonflies in one beautiful film

Dragonfly from Andy Holt on Vimeo.

Does your community group have a wild side?........You could be funded!

Grow Wild is a four-year programme that aims to bring together community members, especially young people, to transform disused, unloved, neglected or uninspiring sites into a place that is attractive and useful by planting and sowing wild flowers, plants and trees that are native to the UK.

It is awarding of £1,000 to £4,000 to community groups that want to bring people together to transform a communal space by sowing and growing native plants. 

The deadline for applications is 2 December 2014 (midnight) and successful groups will be notified in February 2015.

For more information please visit: https://www.growwilduk.com/get-funding

Volunteer recruitment event - 1 - 3 pm Tuesday 21 October at Forum 28

Seal Identification workshop at South Walney Wildlife Nature Reserve

Seal Identification workshop at South Walney Wildlife Nature Reserve 10-1pm on Wednesday 29 October. 

Enjoy learning about our local seal colony on the reserve. We'll start in the classroom looking at different identifying features and then take you to the best seal spotting sites.Bring binoculars if you have them. The walk is 3km long. A tramper is available for use by individuals with mobility problems if booked 24 hours in advance of the event. Please note that refreshments are not available on the reserve.

Places are limited so booking is essential. Ring 01539 816300 or email   mail@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk 

Venue location

South Walney Nature Reserve

Barrow in Furness,

Cumbria

Grid reference SD 225 620

Fun Food for Kids at Barrow Library 11am - 1pm Monday 27 October

Free "How to" growing guides from Thompson and Morgan

“Ever wondered how to plant garlic, when to harvest potatoes, or how to prune a Clematis? Thompson and Morgans useful ‘How To' guides cover a wide range of topics to bring you specialist advice on growing flowers, fruits and vegetables”

You can find more about planting, pruning, harvesting and much more in their ‘How To’ garden guides at:  http://www.thompson-morgan.com/how-to-garden

What to do in the garden - free tips and advice

What to do in the garden, free tips and advice from:

Gardeners World at: http://www.gardenersworld.com/what-to-do-now/week41/
Royal Horticultural Society at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice
Thompson and Morgan at: http://www.thompson-morgan.com/in-the-garden-this-month

Quote for the week.......

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank

Free edible flower guide from Thompson and Morgan

Many flowers such as nasturtiums are edible and can make an attractive and delicious addition to recipes.

If you are interested and would like to learn more about edible flowers, Thomas and Morgan have produced a free guide on their website at:http://www.thompson-morgan.com/edible-flowers

World Mental Health Day 2014 - Friday 10 October

This World Mental Health Day (Friday 10 October) Time for Change will be launching their new campaign that shows that it is often the little things that people do that can make a big difference to someone experiencing a mental health problem – like sending a text to a friend or having a cup of tea and chat.

For more information please visit: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/WMHD

Staff and students from Beaumont College enjoying a picnic in the autumn sun

Early autumn colour in our planted borders

Our mini-beast hotels are beginning to blend in

A nice morning for a little lawn maintenance

Heather providing a variety of colour in our community planters

Time for a little hedge maintenance

Strawberries taking advantage of the mild weather

Our FREE seed saving and winter container workshop proves to be interesting and fun

Our programme of FREE training opportunities continues with todays "seed saving and winter container gardening" workshop –  facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Gardens.

Among the feedback we received included:

"Had a great time. It was fun"

"We were made very welcome"

"Fantastic place to have meetings. Very friendly and informative"

"Thanks, had a brilliant time"

"Teacher was passionate and knowledgeable"

Funding to enable the workshop sessions has been provided from a grant we have been awarded by People’s Health Trust using money raised by Healthable Community Interest Company through The Health Lottery.

Thank you and welcome to new sponsors The Rotary Club of Furness Peninsular

Nasturtiums thriving in our community grow your own scheme raised planters