permaculture
A Look Back at 2016
Happy New Year to you all from everyone at greenerSudbury!
It’s always interesting to look back at what’s been achieved over the previous year before preparing for the new one. We met before Christmas for a glass of wine, some home-made mince pies, and a very relaxed end of year celebration.
At the beginning of 2016 we lost our valued member, Jane Carter – but we remember her with great fondness. During the year we continued maintaining the beds she helped create at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre, as well as the tubs at the back of Roy’s and, in May, we began an ongoing project working on the grounds around the Quay Theatre.
We enjoyed a couple of walks in June to enjoy the wild flowers at Coppins Farm, visited The Apricot Centre in August to learn about permaculture and Tiger Hill in October for a Fungus Foray. We invited speakers Dan Wheals and Bob Flowerdew to talk at the Quay Theatre.
In November, the team returned to the bypass near the Homebase roundabout to do some planting, in the hope that the area will bloom for wildlife – and for people – in the summer!
At Siam Gardens, greenerSudbury worked with Orwell Housing residents, Sudbury Town Council community wardens, and Suffolk County Council Community Resilience team to tidy, cut back, sweep up and plant bulbs supplied through Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils. This initiated an exciting community horticulture project rolling out in Sudbury in the near future…
For your diary! The next Siam Garden work party will be on Wednesday 18th January from 9:30 – 11:30am.
Here’s to a happier, healthier and greener Sudbury in 2017!
Friday Tidy!
Join us at 10:00 on the last friday of the month for our…
Friday Tidy!
Meet on 28th October at the Quay Theatre for some sorting out, fixing up and, of course, weeding. New faces always welcome – just come along ready for some gardening!
The Apricot Centre – a review.
On Tuesday 16th September, six members of Greener Sudbury, and one new member, visited The Apricot Centre in Lawford. This venue is a mix of farm and orchard that is managed on the principles of permaculture, “…a practical design system for sustainable living that offers an ethical, creative and inspiring response to the global challenges of climate change and peak oil. It stresses working with nature and helps you identify steps for positive change for yourself, your family and your community.”
This was explained in further detail by Marina O’Connell, owner and manager of the site. We went on around the site, amazed at the abundance of fruit trees. We were all new to the principles of permaculture but Marina, who teaches courses on the subject, was more than happy to teach as well as answer questions. I thoroughly recommend going on one of Marina’s talks – and if you know six people to go with you, then the talk is free.
(by N. W-K)
Permaculture.
WALK AND TALK
PERMACULTURE FOR GARDENS
TUESDAY 16 AUGUST
10am – 12:30pm
Places still available for what will be
a fascinating morning at
The Apricot Centre, Lawford CO11 2LY
To book a place, or for more information, please leave a comment on the blog and we will contact you directly.
Car share available.
The Apricot Centre & Permaculture
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
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.
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.
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