PAGE 26 • FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 2016
COMMUNITIES IN ACTION
A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEREFORD
PLAYING WITH WATER NEW BOATING LAKE
Hereford ’ s unique Waterworks Museum at Broomy Hill created at the original Victorian steam driven pumping station built to supply the city with water now has a special heritage water park for children to ‘ play with water ’ and learn about the different methods families used through the ages to get their water supply .
Why is a water park a good idea ? The charity Kids in Museums produced a manifesto which said : “ Children don ’ t want interactives to be computer screens and buttons to push . They want hands-on to mean just that ; handling real things at
Community Farm Growing
Watering the garden
As Hereford Community Farm charity enters its third year at Breinton the project has been recognised by the Heart of England in Bloom with a special Achievement Award . Julie Milson , one of the founders of the charity , said : “ Such official recognition of the important services the Community Farm provides is a very special treat for all those for whom it has become a big part of their lives .”
The farm , based in traditional old farm buildings at Warham Court on Breinton Lane is a thriving therapeutic and skills training facility for those disadvantaged by disability , ill health or social need .
Collaborative working with other voluntary and community groups are on-going and have brought new opportunities for learning . An accessible orchard based nature trail is being developed . The gardens have been extended to include a new sensory garden with a covered seating area and multiple height raised beds to provide improved access for less mobile users . The vegetable gardens continue to be productive , supplying organically grown produce for the popular cookery and healthy eating sessions at the farm . Surplus produce and plants are sold at Fodders whole food shop in the city who donate all the proceeds to the farm . Other activities include green woodworking , arts & crafts , holistic massage , working with the small and large animals and ponies , orchard skills and generally having a good time at this special place .
better spent in these austerity times .
It was introduced with a competition for schools and older age groups to create posters , animations , videos and even raps to raise awareness of the problem and encourage everyone to full size and getting messy .” There could be no better endorsement of the concept of the Heritage Water Park , built over two years by the museums volunteer engineers . The photographs show some of the working models and children having a great time playing with them .
Grandstand Park
This large open space at the centre of a housing estate` was a prime example of local authority neglect as the recession took hold . It needed someone with vision to stage a recovery . Step forward Charles Nicholls , a newly elected city councillor in 2011 .
Leading from the front he inspired local residents to share his vision and the Bobblestock and Westfields Residents Association was set up . The result : Two tennis courts lying under piles of debris restored to pristine playing condition , masses of brambles and undergrowth cleared . Instead of being a blight on the landscape it has become a much used park and venue for a range of community events . Hereford Juniors FC has also set up a football academy on the park for youngsters under 11 .. The latest project is creating a series of rose beds around the entrance to the park to welcome visitors .
Charles Nicholls chairman of the Residents Association plants a new display of roses at the entrance to Grandstand Park .
LITTER : THE PLAGUE OF ALL COMMUNITIES
Herefordshire Council has launch a new anti-litter campaign branded : ‘ Stop The Drop .’ It costs the council countywide £ 1m a year to pick up and dispose of rubbish dropped in the streets – money that could be
help solve it . Teams are going into schools to explain why it is so important not to drop litter .
The council is also urging communities to stage litter picks and its contractor Balfour
Beatty provides on loan all the equipment and safety gear needed and collects all the rubbish collected . The council has even launched a competition to encourage the owners of roadside
snack bars to keep their own lay-by tidy .
But everyone can help . Don ’ t drop litter , find a bin . Or why not be a litter picker in your neighbourhood .
Take a carrier bag with you when you go to the shop or take the dog for a walk and do your bit to keep the streets clean and tidy .
Hereford Society of Model Engineers started creating its Broomy Hill Railway Centre back in 1962 on the banks of the River Wye and their latest project , a boating lake for those members who build and sail model boats has recently been completed .
As always , this was a self- build project costing £ 6,000 , mostly for butyl liner and several thousand concrete blocks for the walls . An appeal for unwanted paving slabs to hold down the liner soon saw trailer loads arriving . The site is also a wonderful wildlife habitat , including a wildlife pond built by the members who devote each Tuesday to working on the site .
With rides on steam run model railway engines and now displays of model boats on the new lake this must be the most fascinating family outing in town . Open on the second and last Sunday in the month , Easter to October .
A GARDEN FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN
School pupils in Hereford love their gardening classes , especially as they are outdoors on a farm and they can get their hands dirty . The unique garden is an off-shoot of the community project , Growing Local and has developed over six years on a site provided by the Powell family at PYO Court Farm , Tillington .
Known as The African Garden , the youngsters as well as learning how to dig , sow and harvest their crops , get a special insight into techniques used in Africa to combat climate change . The older boys from Brookfield school have from the start spent Friday mornings helping build tunnels , raised beds and an African style outdoor classroom . Hundreds of city children – and even some mature groups – get the opportunity to learn about the food chain , the environment and conservation . A truly inspirational project . Picture : Pupils from Lord Scudamore School show off their handywork to the Britain in Bloom judges .
Moor Farm Park
For decades a huge open space at the centre of a large council estate , but not a single recreational facility for the families living around it . That all changed three years ago with the formation of a residents association who created a plan of action and sought out the best way to get grants . Now the park has two playgrounds , one for infants and the other for older children as well as an outdoor gym for the grown ups .