Looking south.........

View looking south, towards Greengate Street bridge and the arches. Once the tree pits have been dug, the soil in the foreground is to be planted with fruit trees and layed with turf.

National Trust "Your Space" photography competition

The National Trust have launched a new amateur photography competition called Your Space, which focuses on celebrating green spaces and the life of Octavia Hill.

The competition runs from May through to August and entrants are asked to capture what green spaces mean to them. The overall prize for the winner includes a one-to-one day workshop with award winning landscape photographer Charlie Waite.

For more information please visit their website here.

Buglife - Top tips for wildlife gardening

Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust have produced a "top tips" guide for wildlife gardening, including simple practical advice on how to help invertebrates in your garden! Find out out how to get more bees, or how to reduce the impact of slugs on your favourite plants.

For more information, please visit their website here.

Setting out the raised planters

Our strawberries

Strawberries flourishing in our large planting boxes under the arbour.

Today's maintenance activities

David edging the lawn.

Our new turf gets its first cut.

Raking the lawn area

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

“Never forget that you are one of a kind.  Never forget that if there weren't any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn't be here in the first place.  And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life’s challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world.  In fact, it is always because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about.  So be that one person." - R.B.Fuller

Isn't nature grand.......

Constructing our new raised planters

After marking out their position on site, Steve Reed from Continental Landscapes begins constructing the new raised planters on our soon to be completed community grow your own scheme.

RSPB Make Your Nature Count 2 - 10 June 2012

Get involved in the UK's largest garden wildlife survey and help RSPB find out how wildlife is doing this summer. They would like you to record the birds you see in one hour (on one day between 2-10 June), and let them know what other creatures visit your garden.

You can find  more information on the RSPB website here.

Quote for the week......

"You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself" - Harvey S. Firestone

Completing the additional wildlife banking area

Creating the additional wildlife banking

Continental Landscapes Ltd completing the additional wildlife banking. Adding geo - textile membrane, protective anti - dig mesh and newly imported top soil.

Promote your organisation and help the community - Sponsor a planter

Today in the wildlife boundary area

Setting out the raised planters

Setting out the position for the raised planters.

Raised planter opportunity

Although availability is limited, due to the high uptake, there are still some raised planters available for use on our soon to be completed community grow your own scheme.

You can confirm your interest in the potential use of a raised planter by post to Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC, c/o CHNMT Office, 242/244 Dalton Road, Barrow in Furness, LA14 1PN, by email to greenheartden@aol.com or by calling: 07919 991 989

A copy of our community grow your own scheme user policy can be viewed and downloaded here.

One of our juvenile sparrows

Today in the wildlife boundary area

A welcomed visit from Sacred Heart School - 22.05.2012

In the arch - taking shelter from the sun

Our new shed

Our new shed as supplied and assembled by Continental Landscapes Ltd.

Bumblebee Conservation - Bee Kind

Bumblebees rely on particular flowers for food throughout the year. By using the Bumblebee Conservation Trusts Bee Kind tool, you can discover whether the flowers in your garden are bee­‐friendly.

Once you know how your garden scores, they can recommend some other flowers that you may want to plant  to really get your garden buzzing!

For more information please visit the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website here.

Barrows Wildlife - Springwatch events guide

For Barrows Wildside contact Sue Thurley on 01229 471066 or at suet@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Barrows Wildside - Springwatch events in June

Springwatch launch – Dock Museum 

Sat 2 June 11-3pm - FREE

Have some family fun discovering the wildlife of Barrow and find out about all the other great Springwatch activities throughout June.

Animal Olympics – Ormsgill Primary school, Mill Bank 

Wed 6 June 12-3pm

Can you jump as far as a grasshopper? Run as fast as a rabbit?

Come and have a go at the Animal Olympic Games!

All activities are FREE, no need to book just come along.

Bats of Barrow Island – meet outside Barrow Island school, Trinity Street 

Thurs 7 June 9.30-10.30pm

Bats live in our towns and cities too! Come along and learn a bit about different types of bats living on Barrow Island. Bring a torch and a bat detector if you have one!! The event is FREE

 Call 01229 471066 for more information.

Adding a little turf

Today in the wildlife area

Quote for the week.......

“Life is full of beauty, notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams” - Maryam

Completing the planting

 Continental Landscapes Ltd completing the planting of our new shrubs.

A welcomed visit from Sacred Heart School

Setting out the planting scheme

Continental Landscapes setting out the planting scheme.

A visiting Dingy Skipper butterfly

Save our butterflies week 19 - 27 May

Butterfly Conservation is running a series of events across the UK from May 19th to 27th encouraging people to get to grips with some of our most threatened and little-known butterflies.

For more information and to download their butterfly ID chart, please visit the Butterfly Conservation website here.

The plants arrive on site

Continental Landscapes begin delivering the plants.