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.

Festive fun at Ushaw Moor – Community garden

 

FREE Festive Family Fun is on offer the at the Community Garden, off Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, near Durham.

A Santa’s Grotto will appeal to younger visitors, with various Christmas craft workshops, including a Christmas card class, bauble decorating and wreath making.

All those attending can then help to decorate and light the site’s community Christmas tree.

There is also the tempting prospect of free hog roast, plus hot drinks and mince pies.

The event, on Saturday December 7, running from noon – 3pm, is organised by the Lottery-funded Ushaw Moor Action Group.

via Festive fun on offer at village’s community garden 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.

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.

Community garden takes shape in Ushaw Moor

A GARDEN aimed at creating a learning resource for children while helping strengthen links between the generations in a north Durham community is starting to take shape.

Ushaw Moor Action Group has got the keys to Ushaw Moor Community Garden in the village near Durham City, following preparatory construction work on the site – allowing Friends of the Garden to begin planting.

Action group chairman John Booth: “Our group is extremely grateful for all the support we have had from residents and partners in developing this fabulous facility which will serve the needs of the community well into the future. “The garden will provide a quality community open space which will benefit people of all ages regardless of where they live in the village.

“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.”

During the planning of the project the group engaged with the wider community through a series of consultation events to come up with a final design and to meet the aspirations of residents.

Mr Booth added, the project managed Groundwork North East would help improve people’s health and mental well-being by providing enjoyable outdoor physical activity, social contact and learning opportunities and a space for quiet reflection.

Christine Corker, senior project officer with Groundwork North East, said: “This community garden is a perfect example of what communities can achieve through working in partnership.

“Ushaw Moor Action Group is active group with drive and passion to improve the area in which they live and worked very hard to involve the wider community in this project. As a result of this success the group are now planning their next project”. 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.

Opportunities for volunteering will be created create in the on-going planned activities. For example food growing, garden maintenance, play, celebration and fundraising events.

via Community garden takes shape in Ushaw Moor (From The Northern Echo).