Welcomes
Welcome everyone to the meeting and thanks all for attending.
Work programme
Thanks to everyone who took part in the Love My River litter pick. Around 40 bags of rubbish were collected from around the river banks.
.
Other projects/partnerships
The amount of other projects we have taken on have increased a lot, in order to bring in money to run Grozone as close to “normal” as possible.
Roots to Wellbeing Practical Horticulture Level 1. “Food Growing.” Our second block of sessions has now begun, run by Pete. Alison Beckett is also running a similar block of sessions on Tuesdays at Grozone.
Toddler Sessions. These continue to be popular with over 140 new people having attended since they began in November.
Tytherington School, Macclesfield. This project is underway and will continue to take place on Fridays.
Love My River. This is coming to the end of its funding, with a new block of funding hopefully coming in June. Whilst there is a lull in funding, there is a hope that the regular volunteers will keep up their good work on the project, perhaps joined by some Saltscape volunteers to practical action days, such as balsam bashing or litter picks. This is still something regular Grozone volunteers are encouraged to get involved in.
Volunteer Leaders. Six people have now done their first aid, induction and have sent off for their DBS checks, some of which have been returned. We are hoping for volunteers to begin opening Grozone for “closed sessions” as of Saturday 1st April. A rota will be put in place when Andy returns from paternity leave. Please treat the volunteer leaders with the same respect as the members of staff and follow their instructions, especially with safety. If they are asking you to do or not do something it is for a reason so please heed them.
Caroline is now working 2 days at Grozone a week – a Monday morning, Wednesday and a half day on either Tuesday or Thursday.
The Morgan Foundation and Andy are in talks for fund raising, however the Morgan Foundation will not fund Groundwork, only Grozone so an agreement needs to be reached.
April in Grozone is complicated, with Andy on paternity leave, Caroline only working part time and Pete having a weeks holiday. Grozone will therefore be closed week beginning 10th April and Pete will be working alone week beginning the 24th April, so respectful and patient behaviour would be much appreciated from everyone.
Boot Room – please make sure to keep things tidy, put away anything you borrow and please don’t use it as a personal cupboard, take personal belongings home with you each day.
Request to restart “Tool of the Day” with emphasis on cleaning your own tools when you have finished with them.
There is an article about Grozone in the Northwich Guardian, this is voicing a very negative view on our finances and Grozones future, to encourage funders. Please do not spread rumours, but come and ask the staff if you are fearful or uncertain of what is going on.
Grozone needs to form a steering group with a couple of responsible volunteers as well as other partners in order to access funding not available to Groundwork.
Thank you for donations in the donation box.
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 23rd May 1.30pm.
here to edit.
Welcome everyone to the meeting and thanks all for attending.
Work programme
- Work on the drainage and large new pond at the far end of the site is complete
- Removing the stump in the yurt is now below ground level! Well done to everyone who has worked so hard on it. Now it just needs evening out and the flags relaying to make it wheelchair accessible. In the meantime, take care on the uneven floor.
- Planting of seeds has begun in the greenhouse as well as onions and spring onions in the raised beds.
- Wood brought down by storm Doris has been collected and organised.
- Work is continuing on the ramp
- Restoration of the new yurt has begun with making labels for the poles and the varnish has been purchased. We need the ceiling wheel for us to begin erecting the yurt.
- Lots of pruning work has been done on our scrubs and bushes.
- Pruning and weaving the willow structures.
- Further work on the wildflower meadows
- Work to finish the ramp
- Collect new wood stocks in the next 2-3 weeks from local woodland trust forest. Stuart offered to bring trailer to help move wood – thank you!
- Begin to stain and preserve new yurt, which is to go behind the art shed, near to the forest garden.
- Continue planting seeds for new food growing season, in conjunction with the planting done on the Roots to Wellbeing courses.
- Finish covering the trolleys to make portable cold frames, to allow more growing space for the Roots to Wellbeing courses.
- Continue path maintenance into the growing season, to prevent foliage overhanging.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the Love My River litter pick. Around 40 bags of rubbish were collected from around the river banks.
.
Other projects/partnerships
The amount of other projects we have taken on have increased a lot, in order to bring in money to run Grozone as close to “normal” as possible.
Roots to Wellbeing Practical Horticulture Level 1. “Food Growing.” Our second block of sessions has now begun, run by Pete. Alison Beckett is also running a similar block of sessions on Tuesdays at Grozone.
Toddler Sessions. These continue to be popular with over 140 new people having attended since they began in November.
Tytherington School, Macclesfield. This project is underway and will continue to take place on Fridays.
Love My River. This is coming to the end of its funding, with a new block of funding hopefully coming in June. Whilst there is a lull in funding, there is a hope that the regular volunteers will keep up their good work on the project, perhaps joined by some Saltscape volunteers to practical action days, such as balsam bashing or litter picks. This is still something regular Grozone volunteers are encouraged to get involved in.
Volunteer Leaders. Six people have now done their first aid, induction and have sent off for their DBS checks, some of which have been returned. We are hoping for volunteers to begin opening Grozone for “closed sessions” as of Saturday 1st April. A rota will be put in place when Andy returns from paternity leave. Please treat the volunteer leaders with the same respect as the members of staff and follow their instructions, especially with safety. If they are asking you to do or not do something it is for a reason so please heed them.
- Trap Camera from Ginger and Browns pet shop, Blakemere Craft Village. Many thanks to Ginger and Browns for the loan of the trap camera, all sorts of exciting footage of our badgers, foxes, mice, squirrels and birds. It’s great to see what lives at Grozone when we aren’t there.
Caroline is now working 2 days at Grozone a week – a Monday morning, Wednesday and a half day on either Tuesday or Thursday.
The Morgan Foundation and Andy are in talks for fund raising, however the Morgan Foundation will not fund Groundwork, only Grozone so an agreement needs to be reached.
April in Grozone is complicated, with Andy on paternity leave, Caroline only working part time and Pete having a weeks holiday. Grozone will therefore be closed week beginning 10th April and Pete will be working alone week beginning the 24th April, so respectful and patient behaviour would be much appreciated from everyone.
Boot Room – please make sure to keep things tidy, put away anything you borrow and please don’t use it as a personal cupboard, take personal belongings home with you each day.
Request to restart “Tool of the Day” with emphasis on cleaning your own tools when you have finished with them.
There is an article about Grozone in the Northwich Guardian, this is voicing a very negative view on our finances and Grozones future, to encourage funders. Please do not spread rumours, but come and ask the staff if you are fearful or uncertain of what is going on.
Grozone needs to form a steering group with a couple of responsible volunteers as well as other partners in order to access funding not available to Groundwork.
Thank you for donations in the donation box.
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 23rd May 1.30pm.
here to edit.