Ushaw Moor Community Garden | Life and style | theguardian.com

About three years ago, Ushaw Moor Action Group carried out a survey in the village and everyone felt that a community garden would be a good thing. There was a bit of derelict land owned jointly by Durham county council and the Roman Catholic diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, and they allowed us to have it on a long-term basis. We received money from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces to clear the land and open the garden, which we did nearly two years ago.

Tell us about the garden
We grow all kinds of fruit and vegetables. This has been one of the best winters for us; we’ve been lucky not to have as much rain as all those poor people in the south, and the weather’s been quite mild. There’s a charity called Handcrafted, which is making a keyhole garden for the site. The concept started in Africa and it uses a minimal amount of soil; you put compost in the middle and it leaches out into the soil. That will be our dedicated organic patch within the garden.

There’s an educational spin-off as well. Two local primary schools – Silver Tree and St Joseph’s – come to the garden and do work in the raised beds. Police from Durham Constabulary also do one session a week in the garden: they run a successful scheme called Hagrid, through which they work with children who are seen as being at high risk of getting involved in crime. They won a Royal Horticultural Award for their work. Last year, the kids on the Hagrid project were digging up potatoes and they were quite surprised – I think they thought they came out of plastic bags!

We’re in the process of starting a Men’s Sheds scheme (which originated in Australia and New Zealand) to give men the opportunity to get together and have a chat, because we’re not very good at talking about our emotions and all that.

via Ushaw Moor Community Garden | Life and style | theguardian.com.

Ushaw Moor Celebrate Start of Christmas – Decorate Our Community TREE

RESIDENTS are being invited to plant and decorate a community Christmas tree.

 

The festive tree will be planted in Ushaw Moor Community Garden next week with a free family fun day being organised around the decoration of the tree.

Ushaw Moor Action Group organised the planting of the tree in the community garden where it can be seen by people passing on the main road.

Currently, the village has no lights and there is demand for a tree to give the community a festive feeling.

Other activities include card and wreath making workshops and a Santa’s grotto where children will be given a free gift.

There will also be a selection of free food and drinks on offer including hog roast, hot drinks and mince pies.

The event will take place on Saturday, December 7 from noon to 3pm at Ushaw Moor Community Garden.

via Village to celebrate start of Christmas From The Northern Echo.

Community garden arson strengthens Ushaw Moor volunteers’ resolve From The Northern Echo

 

VILLAGERS have pledged to continue their efforts to improve their community, despite an arson attack setback.

A shed at Ushaw Moor community garden was burnt to the ground in broad daylight on Sunday lunchtime (October 20).

The garden, off Durham Road, opened last summer – part of an effort by Ushaw Moor Action Group (Umag) to spruce up the village and boost community spirit which has also seen the development of The Hive, a community venue on Station Road, and The Hut, a space for group activities.

The garden features displays, paths, vegetable plots, a large potting shed and a “classroom”, which is soon to become a “Men’s Cree” – a space for men to meet in an alcohol-free environment, having won funding from the East Durham Trust.

It has enjoyed support from Groundwork North East and hosted Durham Agency Against Crime’s highly successful Haggrid project, aimed at inspiring young people to stay away from crime and give them a stake in their community.

Both neighbouring schools, Silver Tree Primary and St Joseph’s RCVA Primary, have been involved.

Umag leaders were devastated to learn the shed had been set alight, but said they had suffered vandalism previously, were thankful the fire had not spread to other buildings and were determined to continue their good work.

Secretary John Arthurs said: “It reinforces to us that we’ve got work to do.

“We’re not going to be knocked back by it.

“You do get annoyed and think these people must face the criminal justice system. Perhaps they could be given some community payback and come and work in the garden.”

Volunteer David Drape-Comym said: “It feels like one step forward, two steps back.

“But we’re trying to build the garden up, bit by bit.”

Umag is now considering whether to replace the shed.

The incident has been reported to Durham Police, which is treating it as arson.

A spokesman appealed for anyone who could help the police investigation to call the non-emergency number 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

via Community garden arson strengthens Ushaw Moor volunteers’ resolve From The Northern Echo.

Fruit and Vegetables at the Hive – Ushaw Moor Action Group

A selection of fruit and vegetables will be on sale at the Hive 5 Station Road on Fridays and Saturdays from 10.00 till 2.00, all proceeds will support new community projects. THE HIVE Ushaw Moor Action Group

Fruit and Veg at the Hive – Ushaw Moor Action Group

A selection of fruit and vegetables will be on sale at the Hive 5 Station Road on Fridays from 10.00 till 2.00, all proceeds will support new community projects.

via Fruit and Veg at the Hive – Ushaw Moor Action Group.

Ushaw Moor Community Garden | Updated INFO from Ushaw Moor Action Group

The development was made possible after land was released by Durham County Council and The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and with grant funding from The Big Lottery Community Spaces fund, The County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) and Durham County Councillor John Wilkinson’s Neighbourhood Budget. The project was managed by Groundwork North East, designed by Guy Rowlinson Landscape Architecture and developed by Trevor Atkinson Landscapes.

Our aim is to develop a totally inclusive facility and we are delighted to support the Durham Agency Against Crime HAGGRID Project, which is a positive youth diversion programme based around horticulture and agriculture for young people – as well as their aims to build stronger communities through intergenerational activities.

Launch Event 9th June

The Mayor and Lady Mayoress officially open the garden. Many thanks to those who turned out for the activities and a special thanks to the Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band.

via Ushaw Moor Community Garden | making a difference together.

Community Garden – Ushaw Moor Action Group

Launch Event 9th June

The Mayor and Lady Mayoress officially open the garden.

Many thanks to those who turned out for the activities and a special thanks to the Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band.

via Community Garden – Ushaw Moor Action Group.

Ushaw Moor Community Garden Launch Event – Ushaw Moor Action Group

The site will be opened by the Mayor of Durham at 11.00 am to be followed by a range of activities including making bird boxes with the Countryside Rangers, face painting, hanging basket planting, and tombola. Stalls and light refreshments will be available in the St Josephs Catholic Club.

via Ushaw Moor Action Group.

Garden waste collections restart – Tues. April 17th

Published March 16, 2012.

Durham County Council will resume collections of garden waste from Tuesday, 17 April.

Householders who are part of the collection scheme will receive a calendar during the coming weeks showing their specific collection dates.

Collections may not match rubbish or recycling collection days, so residents are asked to check the calendar carefully before leaving their garden waste out for collection.

The following items can all be placed in the garden waste bin:

Small branches
Flowers
Leaves
Grass cuttings
Weeds
Prunings
Hedge clippings

Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s head of direct services, said: “Last year, we collected more than 22,000 tonnes of garden waste from our kerbside collections, showing what a valuable service this is to residents.”

The county council collects garden waste from homes in the Durham City, East Durham, Derwentside, Wear Valley, Chester-le-Street and Sedgefield areas.

Collections in the Teesdale area, which are carried out by Rotters, are due to restart on 26 March.

For more information about Durham County Council’s garden waste collections call
03000 26 1000.

Bins should be left out by 7am on the specified collection day.

via Press Release-Durham County Council.

Community Garden Takes Shape (Photos) – Ushaw Moor Action Group

Work started  on the development of the Ushaw Moor Community Garden on Wednesday 11th January 2012 and is expected to take one month to complete.

The aim of the project is to:

• provide a quality community open space which will benefit people of all ages regardless of where they live in the village.
• establish a learning resource for children and schools in the village, raising awareness of green and environmental issues.
• promote the development of a “Pride of Place”
• develop community cohesion and enhance community spirit.

The garden will provide:

• space to grow
• space for events and play
• space for quiet reflection
• space for wildlife
• space to learn

Check out more PHOTOS, by following the link below.

Community Garden – Ushaw Moor Action Group.