Another June, another Big Lunch.
The Big Lunch is a national event (www.thebiglunch.com) which aims to get neighbours to have lunch together. Every year, we've had a Big Lunch event on the lovely community orchard - some years it has rained so much that it has been abandonded and others over forty people of all ages in the sunshine.
This year, we're publicising it on Streetlife, Facebook, by email, Community Conversations, this blog and on Groupspaces and door to door leaflets locally. It would be great to make it our biggest ever.
Bring your family, friends and food to share. If you want to help with a little weeding and tidying, then bring gloves and tools. Tables and chairs might be handy, or just a blanket to sit on.
Of course, it's free.
Tom
Friday, 29 May 2015
Friday, 15 March 2013
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Highfields community orchard is three years old
On Sunday march 24th, it is three years since local people created a community orchard on a piece of unloved land at the corner of mountjoy road and Wentworth street.
Come and celebrate with local residents from babies to pensioners, of all backgrounds. If you're able to do some weeding and tidying that's great. Dogs only on leads, please.
We'll bring some cake and sing happy birthday and chat and play. All welcome.
Come and celebrate with local residents from babies to pensioners, of all backgrounds. If you're able to do some weeding and tidying that's great. Dogs only on leads, please.
We'll bring some cake and sing happy birthday and chat and play. All welcome.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Learning about planning permission processes
If a community wants to influence land use to keep green space or to prevent inappropriate developments, we need to be informed and work together.
How do we research the history of a piece of land?
Here's some useful links for those of us who want to ensure their community has a voice and uses it.
Do you know some good resources?
How do we research the history of a piece of land?
What makes a good argument against a proposal to build houses in a residential area.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Join the Friends of Highfields Community Orchard
Join the Friends of Highfields Community Orchard
To join, complete some or all of this information and send it to communityorchard@flow.org.uk
Members local to HD1 5?? most welcome
Your name:
Other names in your household:
Your address:
Your postcode:
Your email:
Your phone number:
Your mobile:
Your age (if under 18)
What could YOU do to help? How do you want to be involved?
I want to join the Friends of Highfields
Community Orchard and support the aims.
The information I’ve given is correct and can be stored and used to
support Highfields Community Orchard.
You can use my comments, but don’t pass on my personal information
without my permission.
Signed:_______________________________ Date:
__________
Community Planning Meeting
Mon 11th Feb 2013, 7pm, Apostolic Church, Mountjoy Road, Huddersfield, HD1.
All welcome.
This meeting aims to plan activities for 2013.
As we've been told that Kirklees Council (who own the land) are preparing an outline planning application for the site, we need to decide how to respond.
All welcome.
All welcome.
This meeting aims to plan activities for 2013.
As we've been told that Kirklees Council (who own the land) are preparing an outline planning application for the site, we need to decide how to respond.
All welcome.
Spread the word...
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Happy 2nd Birthday
On Sunday the orchard is two years old!
Once you've spoiled your mother and gave her a nice lunch, come along from 2pm for some fresh air and to celebrate two years of community orchard making.
There will be cake and singing!
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Planting, pruning and planning
On the 26th Feb the Friends of Highfields Community Orchard got together to prune, plant and plan. The orchard is looking in pretty good shape nearly two years after the first fruit trees were planted by local people.
We've decided to have a number of events this year - the next one on the 18 March, 2pm to celebrate the orchards second birthday. We plan to plant some more trees and bushes, and move some plants that were sort of 'plonked in' last year. All welcome, and any help or fruit bushes/trees welcome.
We've weeded the raspberries, strawberries and currant bushes, collected a bag of litter and had a good chat about how we want the orchard to work this year.
We've decided to have a number of events this year - the next one on the 18 March, 2pm to celebrate the orchards second birthday. We plan to plant some more trees and bushes, and move some plants that were sort of 'plonked in' last year. All welcome, and any help or fruit bushes/trees welcome.
Kinder Castle Nursery and the Highfields Centre have begun to get involved in planting, raising funds and encouraging others to get involved.
New members welcome - it's free and you get regular updates and invites. Email communityorchard@flow.org.uk for more information.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Saturday, 3 December 2011
The OFFICIAL Highfields Community Orchard!
In an envelope in front of me is an agreement with Kirklees Council, signed on behalf of the Friends of Highfields Community Orchard.
It gives us permission to use the site as a community orchard at least until June 2012. Actually, due to a misunderstanding, I think it says December 2012!
Either way it means we have permission to use the site as a community space for fun, learning, play and growing fruit.
We're delighted.
The next meeting of the Friends of Highfields Community Orchard is on Sunday the 9th January at 2pm on site or in the nearby Apostolic Church. We'll be planning 2012. I hope you can come.
Tom
It gives us permission to use the site as a community orchard at least until June 2012. Actually, due to a misunderstanding, I think it says December 2012!
Either way it means we have permission to use the site as a community space for fun, learning, play and growing fruit.
We're delighted.
The next meeting of the Friends of Highfields Community Orchard is on Sunday the 9th January at 2pm on site or in the nearby Apostolic Church. We'll be planning 2012. I hope you can come.
Tom
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Planting the first trees
Planting the first trees and putting up a sign declaring the site a community orchard.
Highfields Community Orchard - day 1
It was forecast rain, but the sun was shining on a litter strewn patch of grass in a Huddersfield street. A few people turned up early with spades, bits of wood, gloves, bin bags – and six apple tree saplings.
By noon there were over thirty five people – mostly neighbours who had barely met before today – picking up litter, collecting glass bottles and fly-tipped rubbish. Six full black bags taken to the tip and a box was filled with collected bottles for recycling.
Meanwhile signs were put up declaring this ‘an ideal site for a community orchard’ and naming the site ‘Highfields Community Orchard’. A poster explained that the land is owned by the local Council. A petition of 150 names was presented in Sept 2009, and followed up with email exchanges with decision makers, but permission had not yet been granted for an orchard as the land has value as a site for housing or development, and would be sold once ‘the market improves’.
One of those on the site said ‘We want to show that we’re serious about making this a community orchard – there is community support, we are willing to do the work, we can get organised. Anyhow, we had some trees and the planting season is just about over’.
Highfields Community Orchard is now a space for food, picnics, play, learning and wildlife – to improve the health, cohesion and sustainability of a community. It’s not an area without problems. Litter, drug dealing and criminal damage is not uncommon. The orchard is on the border of Greenhead and Newsome wards, but also where affluent Edgerton meets Highfields – an area the statistics identify as one of the 10% most disadvantaged in the country.
Those who turned out to dig, tidy and play were diverse in age, ethnicity and ability. Working together for a few hours they turned a neglected patch of land into a community space. Once the work was done, the children played together while neighbours talked about what to do next. What other planting should be done? Where could we get trees donated from? Should there be an organisation? What would the Council say? Could there be community events on the site? The experience was enjoyable, and there was plenty of enthusiasm for more.
They know that vandalism could destroy what was created today. They know that the Council might put raising funds before their need for a community space.
The six apple trees planted in a broad circle stand as evidence that this community has people who are ready, willing and able to come together to make it a better place to live. All they need to do now is persuade the local Council to back the project.
By noon there were over thirty five people – mostly neighbours who had barely met before today – picking up litter, collecting glass bottles and fly-tipped rubbish. Six full black bags taken to the tip and a box was filled with collected bottles for recycling.
Meanwhile signs were put up declaring this ‘an ideal site for a community orchard’ and naming the site ‘Highfields Community Orchard’. A poster explained that the land is owned by the local Council. A petition of 150 names was presented in Sept 2009, and followed up with email exchanges with decision makers, but permission had not yet been granted for an orchard as the land has value as a site for housing or development, and would be sold once ‘the market improves’.
One of those on the site said ‘We want to show that we’re serious about making this a community orchard – there is community support, we are willing to do the work, we can get organised. Anyhow, we had some trees and the planting season is just about over’.
Highfields Community Orchard is now a space for food, picnics, play, learning and wildlife – to improve the health, cohesion and sustainability of a community. It’s not an area without problems. Litter, drug dealing and criminal damage is not uncommon. The orchard is on the border of Greenhead and Newsome wards, but also where affluent Edgerton meets Highfields – an area the statistics identify as one of the 10% most disadvantaged in the country.
Those who turned out to dig, tidy and play were diverse in age, ethnicity and ability. Working together for a few hours they turned a neglected patch of land into a community space. Once the work was done, the children played together while neighbours talked about what to do next. What other planting should be done? Where could we get trees donated from? Should there be an organisation? What would the Council say? Could there be community events on the site? The experience was enjoyable, and there was plenty of enthusiasm for more.
They know that vandalism could destroy what was created today. They know that the Council might put raising funds before their need for a community space.
The six apple trees planted in a broad circle stand as evidence that this community has people who are ready, willing and able to come together to make it a better place to live. All they need to do now is persuade the local Council to back the project.
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