Happy New Year - come and make some new friends at Stonehill this year. We re-open this Wednesday 7th February! Having closed for December and January, we re-open this week. With lots of projects in mind for 2018, there will be plenty to keep everyone busy this year, not least our two new polytunnels for produce suited to warmer climes. We will start building the tunnels this Wednesday and we'd love your help.
2018 Workshops - book now and learn a new skill
Sat 17th Feb 10am - 1pm - Grafting Fruit Tress - £15 including taking your own fruit tree home
Sat 3rd Mar 10am - 1pm - Composting including warmers - £15
Sun 18th Mar 10am - 1pm - Year Round Crop Planning - £15
Sun 24th Mar 10am - 4pm - Introduction to Permaculture - £30
Sat 7th Apr 10am - 4pm - Designing Edible Spaces - £30
Funding Update - Whilst we didn't receive the £1,000 from Aviva for our Sensory Space, we did receive a £100 donation towards the project. Rachel will be seeking further funding to develop the sensory garden. We have received £1,000 from the Doris Field Charitable Trust in Oxford, which will help us continue to run our open Wednesday sessions. If you know of any funders who may want to support our garden, do let us know.
Funding for Groups to visit the garden for FREE - Thanks to the grant from Oxfordshire Community Foundation, we have funding for 20 groups to visit the garden for free - if you know a group who may benefit from a relaxing or educational point of view, please get in touch. Feel free to pass this on to anyone in a local group.
Forest Garden Planting - Our Trees will be going in the ground on 14th February 2018 11am - 2pm. Please join us to dig in!
There are many ways in which you can support us, both at the garden and away from it, get in touch if you would like to be involved in a small or big way. Our Honey, Fruit and Vegetables are sold every Wednesday from the garden. We're there on Wednesdays 10am - 4pm.
If you are concerned about the future of the Guildhall, you may be interested in signing a petition to the Town Council that is being circulated (see link below).
The children's Christmas colouring competition was won by Ava from Masefield Crescent who won the under 6’s category, and Ellie from Ladygrove won the 6 and over category - both girls won a book token. Well done!!! Thank you to all who took part - our independent judge said she found it very difficult to choose from all the wonderful pictures.
Anthony Stansfeld, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, has launched a short consultation to ask people for their opinion on the possible increase in Council Tax of around £12 per year per household to support the Police. He writes ‘…….. without the increase of £12 per year in council tax, as recommended by the Home Secretary, we would have to make further significant reductions in police officers and staff which will affect the level and quality of policing service we are able to offer you.’
Found - a pair of reading glasses in Byron Close. Owner can contact the finder via the tfl_ra@zoho.com or by leaving a message on 07548 419 545.
Back in October we told you about ’new’ arrangements for collection of textile and small electrical items. This information had been sent to us by Biffa. It turns out that this information was ... ahem ... rubbish. The Vale have confirmed that the collection arrangements have not changed and that the Biffa call centre is now using the correct instructions. We are sorry that we passed on this incorrect information.
The TFLRA accounts to November 2017 have been inspected by an independent examiner and are available for viewing for anyone who wishes to.