The Coalbrookdale Arboretum - You can find updates and latest meeting by clicking here
Newsletter Jan 2011 Minutes 3rd November 2011
Events - keep an eye on the 'Events Page'
Dear Friends (08/12/11)
Even though it's Winter and we are all getting ready for the holidays work still goes on up at Coalbrookdale Arboretum.
This month's big news is that Margaret Owen, a long time friend and driving force behind the planting of the original damson collection, has funded and supplied replacement saplings to bring the orchard up to Plant Heritage standard. We need you to come and help us plant them on Saturday 10th December 10.30 am. I believe lunch will be provided. Bring tools, protective clothing and muscle! Plant a tree - how cool is that!
We have reinstated the monthly Sunday morning work party every third Sunday of the month - starting again in January. You can contact Alex Lickley via this email address for more information. For wider outdoor volunteering opportunities contact Cadi Price at the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust, or Lucy Manion at Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. If you don't fancy getting your hands dirty but would like to get involved we still need people to help us with running the group. If you have computer skills, are a financial wizard or are really hot on marketing we would like to see you.
There is still a grant application in the pipeline and we have had to jump through many bureaucratic hoops. Many thanks to those who are giving up their time to help us with this. If we are successful it will be the beginning of an exciting project to make this lovely open space accessible to everyone.
All the best
Jo
Hello Friends, (26/07/11)
An early reminder that the next regular meeting will be on Thursday 4th August, 7.30 pm in the Glass Classroom at the Museum of Iron.
We will be visiting Mrs Margaret Owen's renowned garden, The Patch on Saturday 6th August. Meet in the Community Centre car park, Coalbrookdale at 10 am if you would like to come along. Entrance is £1.50.
On Tuesday 16th August, friends from Madeley Community Orchard will be visiting the Arboretum to be shown around by FCA Members (i.e me and anyone else who wants to come along). There will be a little tour and a visit to Cherry's Cafe afterwards. Meet at 2pm in the Community Centre car park.
Jo Clarke
Dear Friends, (18/07/2011)
The Grand Shed Erection proved to be a wash out! However, we will let you know when the next attempt will be.
The next regular meeting will be on Thursday 4th August at 7.30pm in the Glass Classroom at the Museum of Iron. All welcome.
On Saturday 6th August 10.30am we are going on a group outing to visit Mrs Margaret Owen's garden, The Patch. Mrs Owen is very knowledgeable about the Arboretum, especially the Damson Collection as she helped plant it, and all things horticultural. Let me know if you want to come and I'll send details.
In late August we will be holding Damson Harvest Picnics . Keep an eye on your email for the exact dates of these as it depends on the weather and the ripening of the fruit. The fruit will be used to make jam and other goodies for sale at Apple Day and our next Damson Day.
With best wishes
Jo
09/02/2011
In Coalbrookdale there is an arboretum which has been sadly neglected over many years. The area has become overgrown and in many place inaccessible. The pathways which had been set out in the glory days of the Victorians had in many cases disappeared from sight. The speciman trees were cluttered and choked by many smaller trees which had self seeded. In effect nature had been left for far too long to have her way.
The area which holds the National Damson Collection was also in need of care and attention. If the trees were left to deteriorate for much longer we knew that the status they currently hold would be taken away.
In May 2009 a small group of enthusiastic volunteers agreed to form The Friends of the Arboretum. We approached the IGMT who own the land they were both helpful and supportive of the ideas which we put to them. They will continue to liase with us to ensure that what the group does will be in keeping with the Museums ethos. We also met up with the Greenwood Centre, who have been instrumental in helping us to apply for funding from the Breathing Spaces. The grant from them will enable us to carry out some bigger projects. We also need signage and seating, handrails by the steps can all be paid for from the grant. Public access into the Arboretum is currently poorly signed and there is no local advertising to show local people or visitors where they can walk. We need both money and man power to improve this. The only funds we have had was £200 from the Gorge Parish Council, this was most welcome and encouraging, it enabled us open a bank account and buy small items such as stationery.
Our priorities were to find and reopen the pathways, then to clear the vast areas of tangled undergrowth and above all to make the Arboretum once again a popular place for local people to be able to visit in safety. We were just beginning, and at times it seemed too daunting a task.Just as we were becoming despondant and unsure whether we could make enough of a difference we were approached by the The Probabtion Service. Since October they have brought teams of people in to work in the Arboretum under the Community Payback banner, these teams have worked very hard and have made an huge difference to the site, several areas have been cleared and opened up, without their efforts we would have still been struggling to make any headway.
We are all working hard to bring the Arboretum back into the public eye, for the local people to be reminded of what a marvellous asset lies on their doorstep. We currently have working mornings in the Arboretum on alternative Sunday mornings depending on weather. Anyone who would like to join us or to simply come and see how we are progressing is welcome. If you would like to be part of this group or be given updates on our progress please contact either me (Pearl Harris) or the secretary at;
Jo Clarke Group Secretary 01952 432062 joothames@hotmail.com
Pearl Harris Group member foxharris@talktalk.net