In January the Old North Stables won a prestigious Worcestershire Wildlife Hero award, which was collected in person by Tony Kennell at an awards ceremony organised by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.
The citation for the award reads as follows:
“Tony and the team of volunteers at the Old North Stables have worked wonders to create a community garden out of a disused space just off Pitchcroft racecourse.
As part of Transition Worcester, they are helping to educate the public about sustainable food production and wildlife-friendly gardening techniques.
Most resources are donated or recycled, and imaginative re-purposing avoids unnecessary waste, with old bathtubs collecting rainwater, plastic piping providing the structure for polytunnels and raised beds made from old water tanks.
The relatively new forest garden has made a good start, an area of bramble and big trees is left wild apart from the bird feeders and nest boxes, the much decayed hard-standing where the stables once stood feature raised beds, poly tunnels and greenhouses.
There is a meadow, lots of fruit and edible trees, no pesticides and a small collection of beehives.
Open most days to welcome the public, Tony speaks enthusiastically and knowledgeably to passers-by about the garden, what grows there and why, as well as encouraging them to have a go themselves.
It’s a haven for local wildlife with hundreds of birds, bees, butterflies and the occasional gang of brawling foxes!”
new tree nursery
At the beginning of February some of our volunteers helped collect young saplings from a private estate in Kempsey and transplant them into a new tree nursery here on the community garden site. All the transplanted trees are doing well in their new surroundings, and in due course will be planted around the city.
dates for your diary
Annual seed swap
Saturday 11 April 2020
Saturday 9 May 2020
Annual plant swap
Saturday 2 May 2020 11am-2pm
The annual plant swap will again be held at the old north stables community garden, Pitchcroft. An opportunity to swap plants with fellow gardeners.
Apple pruning workshop
Open air cookery demonstration
volunteers needed!
Whether skilled or unskilled, whether you can volunteer for an occasional hour or two, or can make a regular commitment, we always welcome new volunteers on the community garden. As the weather begins to warm up we will have plenty of jobs to do, including weeding, hoeing, mulching, planting and pruning. We are also planning to lay new water pipes to make the job of watering a little easier, to create a new forest garden designed to attract pollinators, build a new pond, rebuild our flood-damaged insect hotel, and build seating areas in our orchard/forest garden area using donated wooden pallets.
If you are interested in becoming involved, either send us an email [email protected] or drop by and have a chat. We are open between 10am and 2pm every day of the week except for Tuesdays. If the weather is bad, or if you have any questions you are welcome to call Tony on 07532108144.