Ann's blog

Bringing Philips Park back to life

Submitted by Ann on Sat, 18/05/2013 - 7:37pm

We're looking forward to our spring event in Philips Park next Sunday - another fantastic low cost family day with something for all ages. Philips Park is especially important to us because IEPAD volunteers work there nearly every Saturday morning on the community fruit garden behind what used to be the night club. If you've never seen it, Sunday 26th would be a great time to visit.

As well as all sorts of fun activities there's an idea for a really exciting new development there -

George, who organises the gardening, tells us 'now there are plans to open up the buildings themselves as a cycle base with a café open to all users and as an ‘Eco Centre’ promoting green and healthy living.'

At the Eco Centre stall there will be hands on ways for children and adults to tell us what they would like to include in the night club buildings.We'll also be screening the film 'Garbage Warrior' up in the barn office.This is the epic story of maverick architect Michael Reynolds and his fight to introduce radically sustainable housing, and the film will be followed with a discussion and engaging activities to envision what could be our own Prestwich eco-centre.

Council cuts have caused lots of doom and gloom about the future of parks in Bury. Here's a chance to breathe new life into South Bury’s biggest green space.

Add new comment

Rain didn't stop play

Submitted by Ann on Fri, 17/05/2013 - 5:42pm

Thankfully for us, Prestwich Clough Day is such a popular event even pouring rain doesn't stop local people crowding into the Flower Park and enjoying all the stalls and events.

Jill, one of our regular volunteers and plant growers, says 'the IE stall started off with an amazing selection of both indoor and outdoor plants. People gave us generous donations for them which makes a handy boost for our funds.'

And the bands helped to keep spirits up as usual - amazing what a bit of music can do.

Barbara noticed that this year children were coming up to us asking to plant peas - it seems they must be getting used to the wheelbarrow with compost and little pots you can just see in the photo. The IEPAD volunteers of the future?

Prestwich Clough Day

Add new comment

Paddock Farm talk

Submitted by Ann on Mon, 22/04/2013 - 12:27pm

The Creative Living Centre was a very friendly and relaxed venue for the IEPAD Paddock Farm meeting last week. Rosie came over from Paddock Farm near Marsden to talk about the Edibles Co-op, based on their seven acres of rented land in the South Pennines.

It was fascinating to hear how they had patiently observed the nature of the land and what grew naturally in the area and then mapped the effect of of sun, wind and rain on their plot before planning their small-holding. 'We grew to love working on the land,' Rosie explained, 'and that's what led us to set up Edibles.'

Edibles use permaculture principles to work in harmony with nature rather than fight it, and often the various elements of their work have multiple functions. The hens they keep in moveable pens are a graphic example. As well as the eggs they lay, their droppings act as fertiliser and their rooting about in the ground helps to break up the soil ready for planting when they are moved on to a new patch.

It was especially encouraging to hear about Edibles' educational work. Not only the two-week permaculture course they run every August but also the two permaculture-based GCSE courses they run at Colne Valley High School in Huddersfield.

So much of what Rosie said chimed with what IEPAD is trying to do - it's not just about self-sufficiency but also about creating a more connected and collaborative community. Our Forest Garden and the Ostrich Pub Garden both adopt a permaculture approach and in a small way, with our Growing Schools project, we too are hoping to influence a new generation of potential growers.

We found Rosie's talk really inspiring. If you missed it or would like to find out more, check out the Edibles website.

Add new comment

Back to St Mary's Park

Submitted by Ann on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 7:58pm

As promised we got a group together to work on the three beds at St Mary's last Saturday.

(Sarah and I had tidied a couple of the beds previously but we had to spend most of the time getting rid of some builders' rubble that had sadly been dumped there.)

Joan advised it was still too early to start planting, but with some very capable helpers of all ages we did a good tidy-up. Some of us have already started seeds growing indoors so hopefully we'll soon be planting them out in the park. Our next session will be next Saturday 20th, from 10-12, and new helpers will be very welcome.

More photos here

Add new comment

Bad harvest but great Apple Day!

Submitted by Ann on Thu, 25/10/2012 - 4:06pm

Apple Day is about celebrating the local apple harvest and preserving all the many varieties of apple we have in this country. It’s a way of raising the issue of diversity in local produce of other kinds too. Common Ground started it over 20 years ago and now there are events all over the country (even in soap opera, deep in rural Ambridge!)

The big problem this year was laying hands on enough apples to celebrate with but we got there in the end - and so many IEPAD supporters made chutney and baked cakes that we had even more produce than last year.

Then on the day the sun shone out of a clear blue sky! Amazing! It made Philips Park a wonderful venue for families wanting a good day out without all the usual commercial pressures.

Bury rangers turned out with their gazebos and ran the apple press and apple bobbing, while IEPAD regulars as well as our non-gardening supporters served food & drink and organised the other children’s activities.

There were refreshments in the barn, freshly made apple pancakes, hot soup (we’re hoping to get the soup recipes on the website soon, they were so popular) and toffee apples & hot spiced apple punch from the beautifully decorated Prestwich WI stall.

The children had a lot of fun apple printing, apple bobbing and competing in the longest apple peel contest. We even had a little local wildlife turning up under the printing table (find the photo). Then at the end of the afternoon a new apple tree was planted.

Apart from the pre-baked cakes, jam & chutneys we didn’t set a charge, we simply welcomed donations. Thanks to the hard work of all our helpers and the generosity of our visitors we raised a fantastic (and much needed) £600 for IEPAD funds!

So, grateful thanks to all for making it such an enjoyable and successful event. Here’s to next year!

Lots of photos here. If you’d like one, contact us and we can email you a higher resolution copy.