Common lizard and slow worm basking in the sun

Sunflowers helping to brighten up our grow your own scheme

Not sure what this is but whatever it is....its a big one

Relocating slow worms to our wildlife areas with RSPCA volunteers

Feeddback from our cook and eat workshop trainer

Some most welcomed feedback from Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Gardens who facilitated for our summer programme of free cook and eat sessions.

"I was privileged to provide 12 workshops about Healthy Eating and Cooking Skills at Green Heart Den Community Garden in Barrow. The workshops took place during July and August 2015.

There was a wide range of people who attended, including children, adults and some people with additional needs.

Participants learned about eating a healthy diet including creating nutritious vegetarian meals from fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and dairy. The sessions included harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, preparing these, and sharing the meal together.

I observed that over the course of the sessions many people became interested in the different ways to cook vegetables and enjoyed preparing and tasting new recipes.

At the final session the feedback forms included very positive comments, including that several people felt they had learned a lot, enjoyed themselves and decided to improve their diet.

Three members of the the group, all of whom were overweight, had also been motivated to join Slimming World, a local slimming club.

I believe the sessions provided value for money and as the workshop leader I am very pleased at the positive outcomes for the people who attended the sessions, particularly as some of them are from social groups which suffer considerable disadvantage"

Funding to enable the free sessions was provided by Cumbria County Councils Healthy Weight Grant

Feedback from our summer programme of cook and eat sessions

Among the feedback we received following our free programme of cook and eat workshops included:

“I became aware of the benefits of fruit and vegetables and the importance of growing your own”

“I feel I have developed a healthier diet”

“I have learned not only about edible leaves but about cooking techniques too”

“I have learned how to eat a little healthier”

"Very enjoyable, happy atmosphere”

“I learned there is more fruit than I thought”

“Really enjoyed the whole sharing and learning experience”

“Growing, harvesting, preparing and cook fresh food together is fun”

Funding to enable the free sessions was provided by Cumbria County Councils Healthy Weight Grant.

What to do in the garden in September

There's always something to be doing in the garden, whether it's pruning, harvesting crops, tidying, planting or planning for next year. Thompson and Morgan have put together their top gardening tasks for September.

For more information and free advice please visit the Thompson and Morgan website here.

Harvesting our Bramley apples

Providing free cook and eat sessions for Love Barrow Families

Providing a variety of fun and interesting cook and eat sessions throughout August for the benefit of Love Barrow Families. The sessions are facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol from Carpe Diem Gardens.

All sessions are free thanks to funding we have received from Cumbria County Council’s Healthy Weights Grant scheme.

Growing their own and adding a little colour

Our mixed herb communal planter

Our communitygrow your own scheme basking in the sun

Bearing fruit in our mini orchard area

Free advice from Love Food Hate Waste

Love Food Hate Waste have some excellent free advice which could help you save money and waste less. Ideas from making the most of your food each month to saving money, planning meals, storage advice and free recipes.

For more information please visit their website here.

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

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary" - Steve Jobs

How to pick for the kitchen free advice from Gardeners World

"Culinary herbs are the original cut-and-come-again crop, so if you've got them in the garden, don't be afraid to get snipping and picking. The plants really will benefit from it, and you'll have wonderful flavours to add to dishes"

Gardeners World have produced free advice on how to pick herbs for the kitchen, while keeping the plants productive. If you would like more information please visit their website here.

FREE wildflower spotter sheets from Plantlife

The roadside wild flower spotter sheet from Plantlife is perfect for those planning a walk in the countryside.

You can download free printable copies of all the spotter sheets on their web page here.

A most enjoyable free cook and eat workshop session

The aim of this workshop was to learn something new about ‘fruit’ vegetables, dessert fruit, seeds and nuts. By the end of the session, attendees had:

Talked about fruits and seeds

Learned about some edible wild fruit

Observed some ‘fruit’ vegetables, fruits, seeds and wild fruits in the garden

Prepared a salad, a stir-fry and a fruit salad

Brewed tea from seeds

We are very pleased to say that the workshop session was free thanks to funding we have received from Cumbria County Council’s Healthy Weights Grant scheme.

Preparing for this mornings free cook and eat fruit workshop

Preparing for this morning FREE “cook and eat fruit” workshop facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol from Carpe Diem Gardens.

The session is free thanks to funding we have received from Cumbria County Council’s Healthy Weights Grant scheme.

What to do in the garden in August

There's always something to be doing in the garden, whether it's pruning, tidying or sowing. Thompson and Morgan have put together their top gardening tasks for August.

                    For detailed information please visit the Thompson & Morgan  website here

We are looking forward to this weeks free cook and eat session

This weeks free cook and eat session, facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol from Carpe Diem Gardens, will focus on the health benefits of growing fruit, grain and seeds and including them in your diet. 

The session is free thanks to funding we have received from Cumbria County Council’s Healthy Weights Grant scheme.

Chamomile shark moth caterpillars? perhaps

John Woodcock MP for Barrow and Furness joins our free cook and eat session

Free cook and eat flowers workshop

The aim of the workshop was to explore some well-known and less familiar edible flowers and flower vegetables, and cook a meal to eat together in the garden. By the end of the session, attendees had:

Learned about flowers and the role they play for plants

Talked about different kinds of plants we can eat

Harvested some flowers in the garden for our meal

Made three recipes to eat together

We are very pleased to say that the workshop session was free thanks to funding we have received from Cumbria County Council’sHealthy Weights Grant scheme.

Preparing for this mornings free "cook and eat flowers" workshop

Preparing for todays free "cook and eat flowers" workshop facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol, of Carpe Diem Gardens. 

Funding to enable the free workshop session has been provided by a grant we have received from Cumbria County Council’s HealthyWeights Grant scheme.

The big butterfly count 2015

The big butterfly count is a nationwide survey aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. 

Why count butterflies?

Butterflies react very quickly to change in their environment which makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife losses.

That’s why counting butterflies can be described as taking the pulse of nature.

The count will also assist us in identifying trends in species that will help us plan how to protect butterflies from extinction, as well as understand the effect of climate change on wildlife.

 You can download the butterfly ID chart and join in with big butterfly count 2015 here.

Mind in Furness enjoying their picnic

Common darter dragonfly

Another raised planter maintained and prepared for planting

Harvesting yellow rattle seeds

Time for a little lawn maintenance

Growing well together

Accomplished climbers