Event

The Apricot Centre & Permaculture

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The Apricot Centre

Manningtree

Walk and talk on permaculture for gardens.

Tuesday, 16 August

10:00 – 12:30

Marina O’Connell, who runs the farm, has offered to take us for a wander round the farm and garden. Marina will explain the principles of permaculture and how they can be applied practically in a garden setting. We will then go inside for a discussion and to ask any questions.

Marina keeps things informal and practical – and we hope to get some ideas for re-planting and developing the Quay car-park.

….and the visit is FREE!

As the farm is part of the DEFRA funding scheme, we will need a minimum of six people to confirm booking – please confirm by leaving a comment in the comments section of the blog. Closer to the time we can organise car shares and arrange set-off times.

*Permaculture is the design of more sustainable environments
 using nature as inspiration. By observing and learning how 
 wonderfully productive eco-systems can be, we can learn from
 this and consciously design our own gardens, lives, farms
 and environments to work with nature. To be sustainable in
 caring for the earth, natural resources and the people whose
 lives the systems touch upon, and to be fair and equitable,
 returning rather than retaining surpluses.

Dan Wheals at the Quay

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Greener Sudbury is delighted to invite you to the Quay Theatre on Tuesday 19th July 7-9pm for a talk by Dan Wheals, a fully qualified and practicing medical herbalist.

This will take place on the evening of Tuesday 19th July (7pm to 9pm) at the Geoff Kisby room on the top floor of the Quay Theatre.  Some of us have been to a previous talk by Dan and found it very engaging.  We’ll have a chance to try some herb teas and possibly venture out for half an hour to look at nearby herbs and gardening developments in the Quay grounds.

Admission is £4 from the Quay Theatre box office or on line.

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Dan Wheals is a Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and keen herb grower. Involved with local community gardens, green groups and transition town groups, Dan loves bringing community into his work as a herbalist. Community Herbal Medicine is about bringing the healing of herbs to people through medicine but also the power of shared experiences such as community gardening. Using Permaculture design and his experience with groups Dan will give a short talk about herbal medicine’s role in healthcare today and then take a herb walk to survey the areas intended for a community garden. Finally we will taste some freshly picked herb teas and there will be a chance for your questions.

Sudbury Open Gardens

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Sudbury Open Gardens

approx 17 gardens open Sudbury, Suffolk
Sunday 3rd July 2016
10.30am to 5.30pm

Gardens are open this year in and around Sudbury town centre. Refreshments will be available at the Cafe Continental in Gainsborough Street.

All proceeds to St Nicholas Hospice Care.

Cost:
£5.00 adults, accompanied under 10s free.

How to get event passports:
Tickets from Tourist Information Centre, St. Nicholas Hospice Shop, Cafe Continental, Gainsborough Street, and participating gardens.

Further information:
Phone: 01787 882 529
Email: kathyart99@gmail.com
Web: http://www.stnicholashospicecare.org.uk

Directions:
Head for St Peter’s Church, center of market hill.

Coppins Farm Walk Update.

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20160625_102442A sunny morning on 25 June attracted nine visitors to Coppins Farm for a nature walk led by John McGlashan.

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20160625_112343There were rare specimens as well as an abundance of wildflowers to be found, including yellow rattle, red pimpernel, oxeye daisy, pyramid orchids and bee orchids. Thanks, John – and thanks to everyone who came along!

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Coppins Farm

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Next week we have planned a stroll through Coppins Farm in Alphamstone, CO8 5HE, led by John MacGlashan – click on the link to read about one of our visits in 2015.

DSCF4651John runs his meadows under the Higher Stewardship scheme, so he’s always interested to identify what is growing, flying and creeping about – we’ll bring the Complete British Wildlife photo-guide!  It’s happening next Saturday 25th June, meeting at the farm at 10am or sharing cars at 9.30am at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre car park.

Beautiful Bluebells.

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What a lovely way to enjoy the 1st of May. Thirteen of us (not to mention the dog) came together for a visit to Coppins Farm for a walk amongst the bluebells, and a very fine afternoon it was too. As well as its bluebells, the farm enjoys grassland, wildflower meadows, and most of its original hedgerows, making it a haven for wildlife, including butterflies and insects.

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The weather was dry and mild, but we worked up a tiny bit of a sweat clambering over the occasional fallen tree trunk. The bluebells were stunning, just as we’d hoped, and between us we probably took several hundred photographs!

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It’s difficult to do justice to the colour – waves of hazy purple and blue, washing down the hill.

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We finished our walk with a quick look at the Showman’s wagons, and the Victorian railway carriage, available as holiday accommodation at the farm – ideal as a base for exploring and walking in the area!

We are planning another visit to the farm to see the wildflowers some time in June, so watch this space for details. Thanks to everyone who came along!

Join a bluebell walk.

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In 2014 we were lucky enough to have a guided walk to see the bluebells at Coppins Farm, in Alphamstone.

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Another trip is planned to see this year’s bluebells, which will hopefully be as spectacular as last year.

Meet on Friday 1st May at the wildflower beds outside the Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury, CO10 2SU at 1:30pm for anyone car-sharing. The walk will start at 2pm at Coppins Farm, Alphamstone, CO8 5HE. Please come prepared with good walking shoes!