Scoop August 2011

To celebrate the recent opening to the public of this rather unique garden the Grapes Hill Community Garden Group hosted a party last Sunday evening (10th July) to follow on from the very successful St Benedict’s Street Fair. After some heavy showers in the late afternoon the rain held off and the warm evening drew in the crowds. It is estimated that over 150 people attended the event entertained by a selection of local bands including Pattern, Tom Conway, Terry Adams, Feral Mouth and the Indebtors.    Our guests were able to sit around the circular lawn and enjoy the music. The Green Grocers provided some excellent burgers, sausages, falafels and salads and some local real ales and cider all at very reasonable prices with friendly service. They tell us that “it was such a lovely day - We all enjoyed ourselves very much and cannot wait for the next one.”Most people were simply blown away by the beautiful surroundings and amazed at how quickly the plants had established themselves. Volunteers from the community only began planting the trees and shrubs in January and they have been planting, watering and weeding ever since. Others could not believe that they did not know the garden was there, tucked away between the St Benedict’s View business units that run alongside Grapes Hill and the back of the Valentine Street terraces. An information sheet allowed our guests to walk around the garden and identify the different plants and features in each area. This is a unique garden as most of the plants, shrubs and trees have been chosen for their edible leaves,  flowers or fruit. The less edible wild flower meadows also proved popular.  Application forms for membership and rental of raised beds were given out. The raised beds will be available for local people to rent and grow their own vegetables from next January and further application forms are available from the website, or emailing contact@grapeshillcommunitygarden.org  or by writing to 12 Valentine Street, Norwich NR2 4BA.  Priority will be given to members of the group (membership starts at £3 a year for low income and unwaged) and those without transport and a garden of their own.  Wheelchair users will be given priority over the 5 smaller beds designed especially for such use. Visitors enjoyed the information stall which included a photo display chronicling the making of the garden. (More photos covering progress made over the last year can be seen on our website www.grapeshillcommunitygarden.org including some photos selected from Peter Salt’s collection which show how the Grapes Hill area has changed considerably over the years, in particular when the narrow old street was made into a busy dual carriageway in 1970.) Landscaping and planting of the garden has been funded by a Big Lottery/Community Spaces/Groundwork grant and the Greater Norwich Development Partnership.  Smaller grants have been received from, Norwich City Council, RESPECT, Norfolk Community Foundation, the John Jarrold Trust, and the East of England  Co-operative Society.  Further help has been received from  a variety of local businesses offering their services or goods for free or at reduced rates.  Acknowledgment of this generosity is given in full on our website and all have been invited to the Grand Opening on the 7th August. To find out how to set up your own community group and sustain it, including funding ideas,  take a look at http://www.southnorwichnews.co.uk/big-ideas.  This is a local news website that has received funding to help people with vision, drive, commitment and passion to get their projects off the ground with a view to changing the world for the better. The Grapes Hill Community Garden group were happy to advise the South Norwich News based on the experiences we have had.  Our next public meeting will be on Thursday 28th July, at Inner Space, Maude Gray Court, St. Benedict's Street, Norwich, NR2 4PA. 7.30 - 8.30pm. All welcome.The Garden will officially open with a big launch event on Sunday 7th August from 11am – 3pm. Local celebrity gardener Will Giles will ceremoniously cut the ribbon at around 11am and avid gardener Dave Rowntree, drummer with BLUR, has said he would be delighted to come along to see the garden for himself and meet the local residents. The Green Grocers are thrilled to be making a repeat appearance to provide the food and bar.  Ronaldos will be selling a range of ice- creams and local musicians will be providing the entertainment.  Face Painting and a specially designed garden competition should keep the children happy. Entrance is free.