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Walled Garden project gets help from the gods

Bacchus statue, with its acrylic cerulean blue colouring, destined for Bohemia Walled Garden

Bacchus statue, with its acrylic cerulean blue colouring, destined for Bohemia Walled Garden

The Bohemia Walled GardeN project is getting under way as it grabs the imagination of local organisations and individuals. Grants, donations, and other help are moving the project forward, though reams of  paperwork are preventing things from progressing as fast as they could.
Sue Thomson of the Bohemia Wallled Garden Association (BWGA) said, “After joining the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers we applied for two grants for “green” groups.  We succeeded in being awarded £120 from the Chestnut Fund towards our insurance with Zurich, to insure volunteer workers. This was topped up with money  received from our donations appeal. We were also awarded £350 for tools which arrived at the end of September. They will be used for clearance and gardening: loppers, saws, sickle, billhook, spades, forks, secateurs, trowels, etc.”
Sue approached local building supplies merchants Travis Perkins for a dented or damaged wheelbarrow that would be considered unsaleable. “I was told that they could not offer me one like that … but instead they gave our group a brand-new, perfect one!”
She continued, “Through Hastings Voluntary Action we received a £500 grant from Hastings Council available to small groups working for the benefit of the community. This will be used to buy ten panels of security fencing, to secure the site where the walls are damaged and need rebuilding.  Currently, the brambles and some old wire fencing are acting as a barrier. This of course will be removed as part of the restoration process.
“We have received two very generous donations from local residents, (for £100 and £50), who wish us well with the restoration work.  We’ve also been offered a large statue of Bacchus, the god of wine & vines [left], which we hope to accept when the garden is cleared and laid out.
“Over the last two months we have had meetings with other potential funders and on our open day we met on site and had discussions with other partners who may be able to assist with building and construction. Unfortunately, we are still not able to invite volunteers into the walled garden to help with the clearance.  We have supplied the Council with the proof of our insurance and copies of our Method Statement and Risk Assessment documents.  Now we are considering a contract that the HBC’s legal department has sent to us, which will probably require a degree of consultation and negotiation.” Once HBC has approved all the documentation, the BWGA will be able to send out an invitation for volunteers to meet at the garden to get started with the practical work. Sue said, “At last we will be able to make a practical difference to the neglected state of the walled garden!”  
o Heather Grief’s forthcoming History of the Summerfields Estate will include a detailed treatment of the walled garden, with descriptions of its construction and use, dated with reference to old maps. Proceeds will go to the BWGA.
o Trish Audis of St Mary’s Star-of -the-Sea School in Magdalen Road, which lies a few minutes walk from the walled garden, said ‘We’d love to get our children  involved with the project.”

Bacchus
Members of the Bohemia Walled Garden Association were delighted when they were given an 8ft statue of Bacchus*. “We would love to give the ‘Blue Bacchus’ a home in the walled garden”, said Sue Thomson of the BWGA. “We can’t place it at the moment as the site is too insecure and the statue would only be an invitation for vandals.” Local donator of the piece of art, Brian Wallace, has assured the BWGA that it will be stored in a safe place until it can be given a good home.
*Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and intoxication, known as Bacchus to the Romans.

 

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