Because of Covid, although we did our best throughout to grow the garden and create activities, we found it difficult ti maintain the website. This then is a catchup for people to enjoy.
In February 2020 we created our GROWING AN ORCHARD project, and joined with St Mary's school to organize a sponsored litter pick-up event to raise money for the orchard.
In February 2020 we created our GROWING AN ORCHARD project, and joined with St Mary's school to organize a sponsored litter pick-up event to raise money for the orchard.
In August 2020 the garden was ripe for harvesting. With the children on holiday, we created a glut stall just outside the school garden gate and invited anyone in the surrounding area to come and take their pick of the bounty, allowing people to take food for free, or it they wished, to make a small donation which went to the support of our gardeners and for other things to keep the garden running.
To this day the glut stall continues but now in front of St Swithuns Church, in the centre of town. Shops, farmers and local gardeners have and continue to contribute fresh fruits and vegetables to it.
To this day the glut stall continues but now in front of St Swithuns Church, in the centre of town. Shops, farmers and local gardeners have and continue to contribute fresh fruits and vegetables to it.
In November 2020, we visited Bridport Primary's overgrown garden at the invitation of head teacher, Michaela Kite, to discuss the possibility of using the area to create an edible garden for the school, as we have done at St Mary's. Sarah Wilberforce, our long-serving organizer of the St Mary's garden, along with our head gardener, Tia Perrella, had a walk about with the towns surveyor, Daryl Chambers. Head Teacher, Michaela, came as well to observe the beginning of the magical transformation. Many thanks to the Ernest Hecht Charitable Trust for the funding that enabled us to begin work on our second Edible Garden.
In September 2020, we began building the tree house in the forest area of the school's playing fields. Supported by the Ernest Hecht Charitable Trust, with whom we have had a on-going association, and helped by the Bridport Borough Surveyor and his talented crew, they built to a design created by a group of the school's children, whilst they learned about physics and technology.
In May 2021 we arranged a Garden Visit for parents and others to come and enjoy the garden. Meanwhile, the Edible Garden becomes an Allotment Ambassador for Bridport Food Matters.
In May 2021, A team from Bridport Food Matters visited the Edible Garden and set up a pop-up kitchen.
Year fives joined the team to help make a 2 course meal and food 'bunting'.
Year fives joined the team to help make a 2 course meal and food 'bunting'.
In June 2021, a second visit took place at Bridport Primary to discuss an on-going clearing of the potential garden area, and for plans to be made for HOME IN BRIDPORT and TRANSITION TOWN, Bridport (the two groups who work collaboratively at St Marys), to have access and take a certain amount of responsibility, while learning to engage and involve the school's teachers and staff, the parents and children and other groups who have an interest in the wellbeing of the school.
July 2021, we had a (Covid) delayed Building An Orchard opening, attended by Mayor Bark, who unveiled a plaque designed by Jemma Thompson in front of an invited audience of families. Martin Maudsley, our local storyteller and musician, entertained the gathering.
Again in July, 2021 we are invited to Sir John Colfox Academy School to discuss bring our experiences to the school. Perhaps we can help them to reshape their garden, to make it more child friendly and to re-activate the broken glass house and areas for fruit and vegetable growing.
In July 2021, we return to Bridport Primary to begin more detailed clearing of smaller non-organic toxic and dangerous materials, and building a 4 sectioned compost heap from donated pallets.
In August 2021, volunteers construct a new poly-tunnel from the remains of the previous structure found earlier, while other members continue to chop and pick and clear and while plans are studied and discussed.
In September 2021, Tia Perrela, Sarah Wilberforce and Robert Golden meet with representatives of Bridport Primary's School Council and Deputy Headteacher, Mrs Le Gassick, to discuss the children's ideas for the garden - what they would like to grow and eat from the garden and how they wish to take part.
In September 2021, Bridport Mayor Ian Bark, invited HOME IN BRIDPORT founder Robert Golden to speak to a group of Dorset mayors about what he and others are doing in Bridport to bring change. Robert delivered what was perhaps a surprising short speech suggesting that people live in history and those in leadership roles need to understand the debt they owe to history in taking responsibility now so that their children and grandchildren may not suffer from the global climate crisis. You can read the short speech here: www.robertgoldenpictures.com |
We wish to thank everyone and all organizations
who have made this work possible over the years.
Ernest Hecht Charitable Trust
The National Lottery
Dorset Council
Bridport Town Council
Kitson and Trotman
Nantes
Rotary Club of Bridport
Ernest Cook Trust
Wessex Water
Co-op Local Community Fund
The Minerva Learning Trust
Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Beacon Church
The team partnership that delivers the Edible Garden Project is:
HOME IN BRIDPORT
TRANSITION TOWN BRIDPORT
OPERA CIRCUS
who have made this work possible over the years.
Ernest Hecht Charitable Trust
The National Lottery
Dorset Council
Bridport Town Council
Kitson and Trotman
Nantes
Rotary Club of Bridport
Ernest Cook Trust
Wessex Water
Co-op Local Community Fund
The Minerva Learning Trust
Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Beacon Church
The team partnership that delivers the Edible Garden Project is:
HOME IN BRIDPORT
TRANSITION TOWN BRIDPORT
OPERA CIRCUS