Aberdeen City Council hosted an excellent volunteers networking opportunity this week as a thank you to all the groups who have contributed to the Council’s It’s Your Neighbourhood efforts.
The event was hosted in the Duthie Park and featured some exceptionally fine cakes and bakes, or affa fancy peeces if you prefer.
2016 marks GFAA’s third year in the It’s Your Neighbourhood Scheme. We achieved a Thriving assessment at our first go and now we have an Outstanding ranking to defend in 2016 after our success last year. Outstanding is the highest award possible. Taking part in IYN has been a source of good advice on growing, the environment and building a better community, but just as importantly, it has helped us open doors to getting more external funding for our site and facilities.
This last month Norman and I took part in a workshop to help us prepare for this year’s assessment. It’s an important year as 2016 marks the 50th Anniversary of Britain in Bloom. The workshop was hosted jointly by IYN, The Royal Horticultural Society and Aberdeen City Council.
Juliette Camburn hosting and appearing for IYN
Stephen Shaw for Aberdeen City Council
Liz Stewart for RHS
Karen Allan for Aberdeen City Council
Some of the key messages for our preparation included:
So, we have lots to get on with then! I and any of the committee members will welcome all suggestions and discussions about our key developments and plans for the future – and of course help to prepare our site for the upcoming IYN Assessment visit.
Carole Baxter from the Beechgrove Garden will revisit us to meet with plotters and record another segment for her Radio Scotland show on Wednesday 18 May from about 10.30 onwards.
If you can be on site then and would like to meet with Carole please let Stuart know in advance of the date. Carole is happy to take on any and all gardening questions.
I’d like to say a big thank you to all who turned up at the weekend to make our first Community Sunday of the year such a great success. We think we had a record high turnout and managed to get a whole bunch of tasks completed. By the end of the session the site was looking great and some essential maintenance got completed to the Bothy roof.
Thanks to the enthusiasm and efforts of all those who were able to come along we have made a super start to the 2016 season. If you could not make it this time I hope you will be able to come along to our next Community Sunday which is planned for 20 March.
The plan stays the same – about an hour or so of activities suitable for all ages and stages followed by coffee, cake and a good natter. What’s not to like!
Wendy Suttar has been in touch about some of the Royal Horticultural Society Aberdeen events.
The Annual Quiz Night is set for Friday 19th February at 7 for 7.30pm in Newhills Church Hall, Bucksburn. The questions are half horticultural and half general knowledge, so bring your friends along – you are all welcome! Make up your own team of four, or come along and join others to make up a team on the night if you prefer. There is a trophy for the winning team!
The cost is £5 per head including stovies or an alternative vegetarian meal. Please ensure names are given to Hazel Main by 12th February either by email to hmain [at] tinyworld.co.uk or telephone 01224 781171 (just leave a message). If you want a vegetarian meal tell Hazel then, or we will not be able to provide it for you as we are not in an hotel this year.
Also don’t forget the Spring Show in the Winter Gardens in Duthie Park on 19th & 20th March.
Anyone fancy making up a GFAA table for the Quiz?
After a successful meeting with Diane Rough, Depute Head from Kaimhill Primary this week, we have confirmed that another series of pupil visits will take place this year. Last year we hosted Primary 2/3 visits to our site. I think we can say a good time was had by all!
We hope to start earlier this year, in April rather than June and we plan one or two visits a week over a 10 week period. Details are yet to be confirmed, but we hope two Primary 3 classes will visit to look after the new Primary School Plot being developed down by the Community Orchard, taking alternative weeks. Stuart is in charge of getting the plot ready for use and Vinny has agreed to maintain it.
In addition Primary 6 pupils will be building bird boxes and Bug Houses which we hope they will come on site to distribute to interested plotters. Other classes may come to follow some of the learning trails we developed and supported last year. All visits are planned for afternoons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.
We need to say a big thank you to Aberdeen Greenspace who have agreed to fund this collaboration over the next 12 months. Without their support the development of the new plot as part of our ‘outdoor classroom’ would not have been possible.
Last season Stuart, Norman, Gill and Jacqui hosted all the sessions. In the coming year we will be pushed to meet all of the demand. If any plotters or volunteers could offer to help out for an hour or so on any days they would be most welcome. See any of the above if you can help.
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