Hello everyone, readers new and old, and welcome to the last blog of spring 2015. As the usual line goes…”it’s been a busy old month here at the Tree Life Centre!” but add to that a strange one too, more of that to follow. With the changing of the seasons and the weather warming up means a changing of the activities at the Centre, so I’d best get on with it and fill you all in on what’s been going on!
As regular readers may know, the summer/warmer months generally mean we are just keeping the site ticking over with much weeding of the beds, watering, grass cutting and general site maintenance so I won’t bore you with the details of that! However, the summer does mean the volunteers can really get involved with the herb garden and the veg growing projects with the guys really enjoying watching their veg seeds grow and tending to them, and also their senses tingled from the various herbs we are growing and taking home. We are also growing various herbs for sale which we are also looking to expand, so do keep on popping by to see what we have on offer.
This past month we have really kicked on with our wildflower seed planting to have lots of lovely native grassland and hedgerow plants for sale. Starting with individual plants, we are also creating bee and butterfly packs starting at 4/6 plants per pack all the way up to grassland and hedgerow mixes with 104 plants per pack, we can also make these up to order if you have an particular requirements we will be more than happy to try and meet your needs as best we can.
The area to be transformed
Elsewhere, the conservation team completed their work from last month at the Create Centre and Springfield Park in Bath. Then they headed off to Weston during the half-term holidays to create a community wildlife area, complete with pond, with a group of kids who wanted to spend their holidays improving their local area. If you have any tasks you need doing from hedge laying to tree planting, pond making to path laying then get in touch and Jason will be more than happy to have a chat about what you want to achieve and how we can help you.
The transformation nearly complete
Finally, this month we have been trialling a new weekly schedule for tasks at the Centre. We are still open 10am till 4pm but unfortunately the changes involves having to cut down on the general volunteering days but the reasons will become clear…
Monday and Tuesday – a supported group for people 16 and over with learning difficulties, mental health support needs or are just lacking in confidence when it comes to returning/finding work. These two days are very relaxed and social aiming to get the group engaged with all aspects tasks throughout the Centre from growing things from seed to running the shop. The group is also to help provide a stepping stone for those who wish to join in the ‘hurley burley’ of the general volunteering days but lack the confidence to do so. If you are part of a group the sessions run from 11am till 3pm (with a lunch break) but individuals can start at any time during the day.
Wednesday – a day set aside for school age and younger groups to come in and use the Centre’s facilities and learn various new skills, be it horticulture or conservation, even getting the pizza oven going!
Thursday and Friday – the only days now for general volunteering. Tasks might include those around the Centre but also jumping in the mini-bus and completing various conservation jobs right across the region.
If you are interested in joining in on any of the days tasks or have a group of kids who would love to come and get their hands dirty then please get in touch with Jason and he will be more than happy to have a chat.