CANCELLED – Fun for all the family at Community Market & Open Garden

CANCELLED – Fun for all the family at Community Market & Open Garden

Feb 11, 2020 | ActivGardens

Our first ActivGardens market of the year is combining with Easter-themed fun at the People’s Community Garden on Friday 17th April, 10am to 12.30pm, during school holidays.

There will be an Easter trail, children’s activities and a chance to explore our community garden on Maidenhall Allotments, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE.

Meanwhile, at the CRESS Pavilion we will be offering seedlings to plant on your plot, bedding plants to spruce up your garden or windowsills, and freshly picked produce to perk you up after winter.

ActivSheds will be taking orders for bird tables and hedgehog homes to encourage wildlife to your garden or local green space, or perhaps you have a garden bench in need of renovation now it’s getting warm enough to sit outside.

The CRESS Café will be offering homemade cakes with a cuppa – so come along to enjoy the fun and get to know your neighbours.

There is parking in on site car park and in surrounding roads.

Address: CRESS Pavilion, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE. The People’s Community Garden is a short walk away on Maidenhall Allotments.

Future dates for your diary:

  • Saturday 23rd May 2020 – Chantry Walled Garden plant fair
  • Friday 19th June 2020 – CRESS Community Market
  • Saturday 25th July 2020 – Summer Event
Dreaming of a green Christmas!

Dreaming of a green Christmas!

Oct 29, 2019 | ActivGardens

A wonderful selection of crafts, plants, seasonal arrangements and produce will be on offer at our festive market, all made or grown at ActivGardens.

  • CRESS Community Market and Café is Friday 6th December
  • 10am till 12.30pm
  • At the CRESS Pavilion, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE

Young people from a partner academy will be behind the serving hatch at our community café, with seasonal goodies they have made.

There will be fresh produce to help keep you healthy throughout the winter, all grown at the community garden.
Pansies, viola and wallflower grown at Chantry Walled Garden will be available to brighten up your garden and pots.
ActivSheds’ hedgehog homes, bird boxes and bird feeders will make wonderful gifts to help our wildlife through the winter.
ActivLives community singing group ‘Keep on Rockin’ will be in full voice on this special occasion.

Every pound you spend with us will go into our gardening, construction, beekeeping and nature conservation programmes for the whole community, including long-term unemployed, people with learning disabilities, older people with dementia, members of minority ethnic communities, and young people.

So why not come and join us and pick up some original gifts for a greener Christmas! It’s a great chance to have a chat and cuppa too – accompanied by a delicious homemade cake! For further details, or if you would like to hold a stand at the event, please contact ActivLives on 01473 345350 or Susannah on 07530 407302 or email susannah@activlives.org.uk 

ActivLives announces New Ipswich Carer’s Project – Elderflower Hub

ActivLives announces New Ipswich Carer’s Project – Elderflower Hub

Sep 23, 2019 | ActivHubs, ActivLives

ActivLives is delighted to announce that they have received funding from Suffolk Community Foundation for a new carers project in Ipswich; we have been very busy behind the scenes putting things in place for the 12th September when the new Elderflower Hub opened at 10.30 am for its first 3 hour session, refreshments are also provided.

ActivLives organised a focus group of former carers who met up to support the development of the Elderflower Hub and assist in any way they can. The funding will enable local carers to meet up regularly, on a Thursday with other carers and the people they care for, in a social, inclusive, fun and relaxed environment with volunteers and staff on hand to chat to about any problems. The Hub will meet weekly and will be a one stop shop for information, offering signposting and will provide on-going support.

Carers and cared for from across Ipswich and surrounding villages will be able to access the service at the CRESS Pavilion on site at ActivLives Peoples Community garden in Maidenhall, Ipswich, IP2 8RE.

The Elderflower Hub is next to the People’s Community Garden and ActivSheds Project and so participants will have access to a wide range of inclusive, interesting, fun, meaningful and social activities.

Andrea Pittock, Head of Grant Programmes from Suffolk Community Foundation said “One of the key challenges facing people in Suffolk is that of social isolation and loneliness. This project has been designed to support the needs of a group of people who are perhaps most badly affected by this issue, those who require specific care and the people who care for them. Suffolk Community Foundation are delighted to be able to fund The Elderflower Hub to provide an opportunity to socialise, share their problems and find out what other support might be out there to improve their lives.’

Julie Stokes CEO of ActivLives said “This new hub will provide a much-needed social hub for local carers. All the activities will be tailored and designed to meet the needs of both the unpaid carer and the cared for, with volunteers and staff on hand to provide any advice needed, in fact a one stop hub for local carers”

 

For more information, please contact Alison or Gina on 01473 345350 or email alison@activlives.org.uk

Community market bursting with fresh local produce

Community market bursting with fresh local produce

May 29, 2018 | ActivGardens

Freshly picked local produce will be on offer at the community garden’s next market on Friday 8th June, at the CRESS Pavilion, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE, from 10am to 12.30pm.

There will also be a selection of excellent quality plants on offer, grown at our walled garden project, to spruce up your garden or windowsill.

Meanwhile, young people from Chantry Academy will be behind the serving hatch this month with a wonderful selection of cakes and goodies they have made – so come and spoil yourself and relax with your friends and neighbours over a cuppa.

Produce in its prime will include spring greens, lettuce, purple sprouting broccoli, chard, rocket leaves, and fresh herbs.

ActivSheds will be busy renovating garden furniture and making woodland crafts and items for the garden. Why not try something different and join in a carpentry taster session?

Meanwhile the garden will be open for you to wander around and enjoy. How about coming along to volunteer one day? It’s a great way of keeping fit and your reward will be a constant supply of fresh veg!

  • Parking is available in the Pavilion car park and surrounding roads.
  • The Pavilion is fully accessible with an accessible toilet.
  • Save the Date – our 10th Anniversary Big Garden Party is on
    Saturday 21st July 2018 from 11am till 3pm. Please join us!

Future 2018 CRESS markets will be held on 10 August, 14 September, 5 October – celebrating the wonderful world of fungus! There will be no market in November as we prepare for our Christmas Market on Friday 7 December 2018.

For more information, or if you would like to hold a stand, please contact ActivLives on 01473 345350 or Susannah on 07530 407302 or email susannah@activlives.org.uk