Halton Gardening Group
The Gardening Group was established in 2012 with the aim of providing a forum to share information, swap plants and gardening know-how, and to improve the local environment of the village of Halton.
All are welcome. You don’t need any gardening knowledge or expertise. We are keen to involve all sections of our community, and we are open to ideas and suggestions for individual and community benefit. We are enthusiastic amateurs with a varied range of knowledge and experience.
Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, currently online due to government restrictions (Jan 2021).
All are welcome. You don’t need any gardening knowledge or expertise. We are keen to involve all sections of our community, and we are open to ideas and suggestions for individual and community benefit. We are enthusiastic amateurs with a varied range of knowledge and experience.
If you are interested in helping with our Memorial Garden project or joining our group, please get in touch with Anne Snowden, Secretary HGG, 07523 182617, or email: haltongardeninggroup@gmail.com
A successful Plant Sale was held on 22nd May 2021
Thanks to everyone who came to the Centre on 22nd May and supported the Halton Gardening Group’s Plant Sale. It was our first event for quite some time so it was really good that so many people came to it.
It was an amazing success, the group took over £1000 on the day! The proceeds will go towards the group’s refurbishment project, the Memorial Garden, and maintaining the planting scheme in the raised bed in front of the Centre, as well as the various planters and sites around the village.
People who came to the sale were interested in finding out about the plants they wanted to buy, to learn about them and how to look after them.
The Coffee Shop was busy too thanks to the customers at the plant sale.
Exciting News January 2021
As Spring approaches small shoots are appearing in the tubs, planters, terrace and grounds tended by this active group. It heralds the start of new life and hope, promising a glorious display of narcissi, muscari, tulips and other Spring flowers in the early months of 2021.
The group have been very busy in 2021 refurbishing the Memorial Garden on the corner of Low Rd and Foundry Lane, with support from the Parish Council, contractors and any other willing volunteers. Over £2000 has already been raised from grants and last year’s plant sale to help with the restoration. Donations so far received: Halton Lune Trust, Duchy of Lancaster, DPD Eco Fund, Logs Direct, HiQ Tyres & Autocare, and the Lancaster Community Fund for which we are very grateful.
This ambitious project has captured the imagination of our members and supporters, however, there is a great deal of work to do and any additional help will be greatly appreciated. Obviously, the COVID -19 lockdown restrictions will impact our ability to progress as quickly as we would have liked, but some work can be commenced with the help of contractors.
We have removed and reduced overgrown and overhanging shrubs in the three border beds and replanted with a more suitable selection of plants and flowers, which reflect the era during which the garden was built and are sensitive to its purpose as a Memorial space. Working with the existing large cherry tree and some remaining shrubs, the new planting will provide year round interest and colour, with respect for wildlife. As funds grow we intend to provide more seating and a structural central focal point with plants. We expect it will take us until Summer 2022 to complete.
This will provide an interesting foreground to the historic Motte and Bailey behind and complement any heritage conservation and promotion in the future.
Information
AGM 2020 Chair’s report: Chairs-Annual-report-AGM-2020.pdf
HGG responsibilities March 2020
The terrace planting scheme which has been taking shape over the year includes village favourites such as, alliums, grasses, rudbeckia, asters and sedum, and spring bulbs which should provide a good show in 2021. Watch it grow and flourish and note the other areas in the village that have had some TLC by HGG members.
Plant Sale September 2020
Halton Gardening Group held a very successful Plant Sale on Saturday 19th September 2020, in spite of some last minute changes due to new Covid rules. The beautiful September weather was enjoyed by our customers as they strolled around the village picking up plants from the Centre field and the Garden Gate sales.
The magnificent sum of £682 was raised which will be used towards the refurbishment of the Memorial Garden and other schemes. A big thank you to all who supported the plant sale, as we couldn’t have done it without you.
Wild flowers at the Centre
In 2019, the Gardening Group dug and prepared three patches on the football field slope and sowed mixed wild flower seeds from Kew, helped by pupils from St Wilfrid’s School. Attractive signs designed by school pupils mark these three original wild flower areas. That same summer several large invasive plants on remaining areas of the slope were removed by members and friends at a very strenuous Big Dig session. A mixture of meadow grass and annuals was sown with posts and tape added to mark these areas. This wild flower work is ongoing and hopefully the bank will be covered eventually in mixed grass and wild flowers for all to enjoy.
Plant Sale May 2019
Thanks to everyone who gave their time, made cakes, and donated plants and tombola prizes. We were very pleased with the event and raised a decent amount for our next project.
The original development of the borders at The Centre:
https://www.haltoncentre.org/2013/07/great-work-on-beds-and-borders/