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. 

Green Heart Den apples

Bramleys Seedling.

                                                       Egremont Russet

Minute taking opportunity

Could you help us?

Currently we a looking to recruit a volunteer minute - taker for our regular Management Committee meetings.

This need not take up too much of your time as the local meetings generally take place the first Wednesday of the month, between noon and 1pm.

If you or a member of your organisation would like to express an interest in this role could you please contact our Project Coordinator Graham Bromley on: 07919 991 989.

Thank you.

Management Committee invitation

Due to recent changes in membership, Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC are now looking to recruit new Management Committee Members.

• Are you interested in making a difference in your community?
• Do you have the time to commit to helping our organisation make a difference?
• Would you like to contribute and make a difference by becoming a valued member of our team?

This does not need to take up much time. For example, our monthly meetings generally last between one to one and a half hours.

Although not essential, we are looking for people who may have experience in:

• Administration/Secretarial duties
• Human Resources
• Community Development

If you would like to join our Management Committee, please express your interest by post to:

Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC
c/o CHNM
242/244 Dalton Road
Barrow in Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1PN

Thank you.

Grow your own scheme Planning application

Please find a link to the north plot grow your own scheme planning application on the Barrow Borough Council planning page on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/bbcplanning/statuses/73045871310282753

North plot banking - flora and fauna

Common Toad flax

Carder bee ?

Additional pictures can be viewed on our Flickr gallery here

North plot community grow your own scheme

Final drawing and specifications for the North plot grow your own scheme.

Progressing the repairs to Arch D

Contractors from AMCO, as commissioned by Network Rail, have replaced many of the loose and damaged bricks around arch D.

To view additional pictures please visit our Flickr gallery here

North plot soil sampling

Richard Lote of Meridian Geoscience preparing to take various soil samples from the north plot as part of the planning process in preparation for the development of the community grow your own scheme.

"Grow your own" scheme user reference

The north plot community grow your own scheme user group which, among others, includes members of the local community, CADAS, MIND, Croftlands Trust, Central and Hindpool Neightbourhood Management, Furness Youth Work Consortium and NHS Cumbria has recently produced reference documents related to the scheme.
The aim of the user group is to advise and support Marsh Street Arches and Garden Community Interest Company in the development of the community grow your own scheme and to allow users the opportunity to have a say in the use and management of the scheme.
The user group's primary purpose will be to advise and support Marsh Street Arches and Garden Community Interest Company to manage and maintain the scheme for the benefit of its users and the wider community.
Please find details of the user group terms of reference here
Please find details of the grow your own scheme user policy here

North plot wall railings and gates

We are please to confirm that our Project Coordinator has now commisssed local Company Gilmour Fabrications Ltd with the works associated with the fabrication and installation of the new metal railings and the new secure gated for the north plot wall.

Funding for this work has been provided from the grant we received from Our Green Space.

Repairs to arch D brickwork continue

North plot banking flora and fauna

Vipers bugloss (foreground) and ox eye daisies.

Female Common Blue butterfly

Repairing the archway brickwork

Contractors from AMCO reparing the archway brickwork, as commissioned by Network Rail.

Additional pictures can be viewed on our Flickr gallery here

North plot wildlife banking

Common Blue butterfly

Ox eye daisy

Marks and Spencer site meeting

Pictured left to right during this morning onsite meeting on the north plot are : Barrow Marks and Spencer store Manager Andrew McKellar, our project Coordinator Graham Bromley and Groundwork NE Operations Manager Julian Smith.

The aim of the meeting was to view the project first hand and explore options for the involvement of local Mark & Spencer staff.

Marks and Spencer have contributed a substantial grant towards the development of the north plot community grow your own scheme as part of the Greener Living Places programme This is a 10-year partnership between Marks & Spencer and Groundwork and is giving hundreds of people the opportunity to come together and improve their quality of life by creating invaluable clean and green open spaces.

Clearing the north plot

Contractors from Marsh Plant Hire begin works to clear the north plot.

Minor works to Greengate Street Bridge structure

Contractors from AMCO continue with the minor works assocaited with Greengate Street bridge sturcture, as commissioned by Network Rail.

North plot wall update

The work to rebuild the wall to half height in now complete. The next stage is to commission the works to fabricated and install metal railings on top of the brickwork and a new secure gated access. These will be similar in design and specification to those on the Green Heart Den. This work will be commissioned by the end of this week.

The work associated with the new brickwork was joint funded by Barrow Borough Council and the Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC and using bricks previously donated to the CIC by Armstrongs. Works associated with the new metal railings and gates will be commissioned by the Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC and funded via their Our Green Space grant.

Various blossoms on the Green Heart Den

Egremont Russet

                                           Malus Golden Hornet crab apple

                                                         Malus Golden Hornet crab apple

Green Heart Den blossom



Natterjack Toad Walk - Monday 18 April 7pm

Interested in growing your own? Got limited space? This is for YOU!

Snowy mespilus beginning to blossom

Thomas Armstrong Construction Ltd preparing to leave the north plot

Peacock butterflies on the north plot

North plot wall progress

Works associated with the new north plot boundary wall is progressing nicely. The brickwork for the wall is to be rebuilt to a height of one metre after which one metere high metal railings will be installed on top.

The work associated with the new brickwork was joint funded by Barrow Borough Council and the Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC and using bricks previously donated to the CIC by Armstrongs. Works associated with the new metal railings and gates will be commissioned by the Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC and funded via their Our Green Space grant.

Nice to see the little blue birds again

Cumbrian communities wanted for new project to help local green spaces

Friends of the Lake District are looking for communities across Cumbria who would like to develop, enhance or celebrate the heritage of their local environment.
The landscape conservation charity is inviting communities from across Cumbria to apply to take part in a three year project that will provide support and funding to undertake work or activities focused on their village greens or urban green spaces. 
Friends of the Lake District are developing the project to build upon the success of ‘Our Green Space', a Heritage Lottery funded project that has provided financial support, help and advice for five communities developing their green spaces and celebrating them by holding events and festivals. Run over the past four years, ‘Our Green Space' has found that communities greatly value their local green areas and many would like help to look after them and enjoy them more.
All nominations for the new project should be submitted by May 9th 2011 and could include proposals such as repairing historic features on a green, developing a wildlife area or pond, researching the history or archaeology of a site or re-creating celebrations and activities on the green. 
Projects should aim to involve many people within the community and training, help and advice will be provided to develop a plan and involve others. The project will focus on the history and culture of green spaces or environmental and communty benefits, and is not aimed at funding playgrounds, allotments, school playing fields or formal council owned parks.

You can download an application form on their website here.
If you would like more information please visit: Our Green Space or phone Friends of the Lake District on 01539 720788.

Greengate Bridge structure update

Following our long standing concerns in regard to what we understood to be a deteriorating condition of the Greengate Street bridge structure and following recent structural surveys commissioned by Cumbria County Council, the bridge has been given the following classification as identified in the picture below.

The sunny weather is beginning to attract various butterflies

Our first sighting of a Peacock butterfly this year.

and a Small White butterfly

Thank you Alex

Police apprentice Alex Walker helping out with some maintenance on the Green Heart Den.

Thanks Alex, it was much appreciated. Looking forward to your next visit.

Very generous donation form Soroptimist International - Barrow

Our Project Coordinator Graham Bromley (back row, far right) along with representatives of various other organisations  who received a very generous donation from members of Soroptimist International - Barrow.

Thank you to all at Soroptimist International - Barrow, this will make a real difference.