Here at Bridgend Farmhouse we're looking ahead to Easter - we'll have a hunt on Easter Sunday, and Outdoor Activities courtesy of Trees and Seas during the final week of the holiday. There will be another exhibitor from the Backstage Art club in April [all going to plan], and Aisha will take the exhibition room walls over in May. Our summer led ride schedule resumes weekly on Fridays with A Wee Pedal, and we'll no doubt hear lots of giggles and whoops from the Very Inclusive Play Club as the weather improves and they can get outdoors more. The growing season will be well under way, cue chutneys and jams... and the blossom will be out in just a few weeks to bring a splash of colour to the site! Yet another busy season expected all round the Farmhouse.
A SPRING IN OUR STEP
Spring is our planting season here at Bridgend Farmhouse. Our team of over 20 volunteer gardeners are busy in the allotments. We’re so proud of what they do that we have entered them for the Volunteer Edinburgh Awards.
But that isn’t the only department where spring is being celebrated. Our cycling operation is hurtling towards summer, repairing bikes, refurbishing bikes for sale, teaching cycle maintenance…all from our new Bike Barn.
The woodwork shop, the arts and crafts room, café and kitchen are all busy and we have a new canvas on our marquee. Children’s voices ring out from the Bothy and play area. And we have a new project starting this spring, re-imaging the area of land behind the workshops as a Peace Garden.
We are increasing our work with local schools and young people. In the last year we have offered 46 12-18 year olds volunteering experience in woodwork, bike maintenance, gardening, kitchen and café work. We have helped 12 young people gain entry into college courses.
With government funding for community projects like ours drying up, we have been fortunate in gaining grants from independent charities and trusts who see the value of our work in tackling poverty and lack of opportunity. Our area of Edinburgh, EH16 and EH17, has 20 so-called zones of multi-deprivation in which some 14,000 people are living in hardship.
To enable us to carry on with our work, we are appealing to everyone in our community to use our café, hire our marquee, our workshops and exhibition room, and sign-up for our courses and seasonal events. And please, think about volunteering with us, as a café assistant, a woodwork or art leader, a handyman/woman to care for the gardens and buildings. Oh, and one last thing – if you have a bicycle you are not using, we desperately need bikes in reasonable condition so they can be overhauled and sold at affordable prices.
Yours, John Knox
Chair of Trustees
Spring is our planting season here at Bridgend Farmhouse. Our team of over 20 volunteer gardeners are busy in the allotments. We’re so proud of what they do that we have entered them for the Volunteer Edinburgh Awards.
But that isn’t the only department where spring is being celebrated. Our cycling operation is hurtling towards summer, repairing bikes, refurbishing bikes for sale, teaching cycle maintenance…all from our new Bike Barn.
The woodwork shop, the arts and crafts room, café and kitchen are all busy and we have a new canvas on our marquee. Children’s voices ring out from the Bothy and play area. And we have a new project starting this spring, re-imaging the area of land behind the workshops as a Peace Garden.
We are increasing our work with local schools and young people. In the last year we have offered 46 12-18 year olds volunteering experience in woodwork, bike maintenance, gardening, kitchen and café work. We have helped 12 young people gain entry into college courses.
With government funding for community projects like ours drying up, we have been fortunate in gaining grants from independent charities and trusts who see the value of our work in tackling poverty and lack of opportunity. Our area of Edinburgh, EH16 and EH17, has 20 so-called zones of multi-deprivation in which some 14,000 people are living in hardship.
To enable us to carry on with our work, we are appealing to everyone in our community to use our café, hire our marquee, our workshops and exhibition room, and sign-up for our courses and seasonal events. And please, think about volunteering with us, as a café assistant, a woodwork or art leader, a handyman/woman to care for the gardens and buildings. Oh, and one last thing – if you have a bicycle you are not using, we desperately need bikes in reasonable condition so they can be overhauled and sold at affordable prices.
Yours, John Knox
Chair of Trustees
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