Sunday 24th October.

Many thanks to everyone who came and helped out sowing the
wildflower meadow seeds today. We had 11 of us (Mark, Kelly, Joanne,
Helen, Tim, Stewart, Bronwyn, Sophie, Cathy, Ken and me.
The seeds were sown on the bank facing the Ragged school and
consisted of mixture of wildflowers, poppies and sand (to prevent
birds eating them).

After a quick break (and some of Stewart's birthday cake) we jumped
in the mini bus, which we'd hired for a trip to Vicarage Nurseries,
Carrington. Cath drove whilst we all sang along. At the garden
centre, Chris a consultant - who'd previously visited Angel Meadow
earlier that week, gave us a guided tour pointing out the types of
plants we should be considering planting in the new year - all part
of the spend from the BTCV grant the friends group has been awarded
of around £7, 000!!

The idea so far is to buy a mixture of shrubs, grasses and
herbaceous plants. We are also keen to have some plant cover during
the winter months so found some pretty looking evergreen bushes and
a beanstalk of a tree (see the photo's with Tim next to it!!) Bark
mulch will be put down first, which will bed the plants plus
reducing weed cover and improving water retention.

The gravestones, which will be formally laid beside the wall on Old
Mount Street, will also have a lavender garden area. Chris the
consultant will in the next couple of weeks be providing us with a
design which we'll comment on before purchasing in advance the
plants in order to source them and potentially start planting next
year.

After the tour we headed back into town for a quick drink in the
Marble. Once again thank you for all your efforts.
I've uploaded some photos of the sowing, nursery visit plus some
pictures of the developments in the park on the website under:

Photos --> Vicarage Nurseries Oct 04

Regards,
Mike Wingfield
Chairman of Friends group