Hi everybody!
Although the gardens have been closed for public use since the end of October, that does not mean nothing has happened since, on the contrary! At Porlock Community Gardens we have been busy all winter with many different projects to make the gardens even more welcoming and appealing for you all this Spring and Summer!
PROGRESS OVER THE WINTER
We have new and improved paths throughout our Community section, and can now utilise our lovely pagodas for workshops and activities, and our huge wheel chair accessible planting bed to make gardening inclusive for all our users. The paths have been done courtesy of the Levelling Up fund through South Tyneside Council.
The same source is funding our amazing new geometric domes, 2 beautiful growing spaces which are still under development by artist and designer Freddy Worrel with the help of 4 brilliant students from Epinay school. We can't wait to see how the two domes will eventually look on site!
Through Porlock's own community group Friends of Porlock and their partnership with Groundwork's project Green Hubs funded by the National Lottery, we now have a brilliant, spacious and clean disabled accessible composting toilet with a separate urinal, which we are very happy with. There is also baby changing facilities available. And proper handwashing facilities outside.
ONGOING PROJECTS
We are currently working on developing a large wild life pond/area at the top end of the garden, where we will eventually grow trees and hedges sponsored by the Wildlife Trust. Digging the pond is a big job, which students from various classes at South Tyneside College on work experience are currently helping us with.
We are also developing a separate kids' garden/growing space adjacent to our community growing space, where children can come and develop their green fingers, feel the joy of gardening and learn about where our food comes from.
We still working behind the scenes on the bus project, and looking for funding and volunteers to help us with this massive task. Our double decker bus, generously donated and re-donated last year by Stagecoach and Just for women+ centre in Stanley respectively, will eventually emerge as our new and welcoming onsite tearoom and extra meeting/workshop space. Watch this space for the progress!
Furthermore, our friends at Hitachi in Hebburn have generously once again donated lots and lots of pallets, so we can develop a great little stage for music and other performing events at the garden, as well as a functional outdoor kitchen adjacent to our crafty/pottery cabin.
So many, many ongoing projects at Porlock, all with our community in mind.
VOLUNTEERING/DONATIONS/SPONSORING
If you would like to get involved with volunteering or you would like to make donation or sponsor one of our projects, please don't hesitate to get in touch!
THE DANDELION PARTNERSHIP
Together with our closest partners, we have formed a beautiful collaboration, which we call "The Dandelion Partnership". Our partnership is reflected in the properties of the Dandelion plant; all parts are useful and beneficial. This is a collaboration between Big Local Jarrow, Bilton Hall Community Trust, Jarrow Mindset, Wonderful Weeds and Porlock Gardens. THese are all organisations and people with lots of different skills and knowledge who come together to create more health, wellness and community in Jarrow, South Tyneside and beyond. We will present more of what we working on together in the weeks and months to come.
PORLOCK RE-OPENING DAY 23rd APRIL
We are re-opening the gardens for Spring and Summer in a great family event joint with Bilton Hall Community Centre, on St George's Day 23rd April 11am-2pm (Porlock), 1pm-3pm (Bilton), and there will be a parade going from Porlock to Bilton before we close the gardens for the day. Lots of fun craft sessions, activities and games are planned, all themed around Spring, Easter/Ostara and St. George's Day with knights and dragons galore.
The event is free and children eat for free through #HAF fund, however there will be a small charge for food/drinks for adults. But the spaces must be booked in advance.
Please book your space for our St. George's Day Reopening event through one of the links below:
- If you are eligible for free school meals, please book here: https://book.plinth.org.uk/e/fNoeZ1YOpDU8om8VsQBp
- Otherwise, if you are not eligible for free school meals, please use this booking link: https://hosted-uk.coacha.app/member_signup/Auxiliayouth
Welcome!
UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY
We also have a Summer themed event planned around 20th July (final date tbc) to mark and celebrate our 1st year of being open as a community garden. Please watch this space for more details later on, and we hope to see you there!
Thanks for your ongoing support and we hope to see all of you enjoying yourselves at our urban green retreat in the middle of Low Simonside.
See in the gardens very soon!
In Comm-Unity,
Lise and the Porlock team