Hello everybody and welcome back to our monthly update for the Tree Life Centre here in Bristol! You find us at the end of a busy month as it seems that spring is finally well and truly upon us, the blossom is starting to come out and many of our saplings are waking up after a long, hard winter dormancy resulting in the centre becoming slowly more colourful by the week.
The month started with everyone being hands on trying to get some last minute apple grafting done, and planting out as many of our young trees that we have grown from seed the previous year. Fortunately the unseasonably cold weather, including more snow, assisted in us getting more done than would normally be possible. Eventually we ran out of beds, which must be a good sign!
The early forms of the centre for the herb garden.
Also, this month our new herb garden project started, as mentioned in March’s blog. The group involved with the garden is for people experiencing lived with mental health issues and is currently being run on a weekly basis every Wednesday. So far the area was cleared of the previous beds and now marked out and slowly accumulating bricks for the construction. Also, one of the members is starting to grow the herbs from seed. If you, or know anyone, who is interested in the project then please do contact us for further details. There are a range of activities available be it physical or the actual growing side, whichever your preference is. If you can’t make Wednesday’s then you are more than welcome to join our band of merry volunteers the other days we are open as we are a very friendly inclusive community project.
A volunteer hard at work laying the base which is now complete.
If you have paid us a visit recently not only would you have noticed the ongoing work to our herb garden area near the entrance but also, closer to the doorway we have been putting up a new log cabin to replace the potting shed that was sadly burnt down last year. So far the base has been laid with an outdoor water point erected nearby. Also, part of the entrance is in the process of being freshened up to be more pleasing to the eye for visitors, and will hopefully boost plant sales!
Finally, a volunteer has been putting their skills to the test and working on a special top-secret project that we will hopefully be able to launch at some point in May…!
Parish notices:-
We are always welcome to new volunteers, so if you have a passion for conservation or just want something to do with your spare time and meet people then you are always more than welcome to come and join us. We also run diploma’s in Work-based Horticulture (NVQ Level 1 and 2 in association with Dutchy College) which are ongoing and can sign up and take part in the courses.
Did you know we have a variety of native wildflowers and garden strawberries for sale at very reasonable prices? Alongside potted trees and shrubs for sale/rent we have stands full of flowers that are for sale in our entrance, where we will soon be adding various vegetable plants to our range. Come by and pay us a visit to see what we have on offer! (We also have limited amounts of well rotted manure for sale too…just ask!)
Don’t forget you can get more up-to-date news and more pictures on our Facebook and Twitter accounts so follow/like away!