The Hyde Farm Community Garden was also created in 2009 based around the currently disused St Thomas’s church hall in Radbourne Road. We have turned this unique green space in the heart of the Hyde Farm into an exciting, organic food growing project for the community. The garden provides a meeting place where residents can work together, learn new skills and literally “get back in touch with the earth”. The experience has proved rewarding for many visitors and their children and over 150 people have visited the garden to help or to buy plants and produce since we started in February 2009.
The garden also aims to raise awareness of how food choices and growing techniques are key to a sustainable future. As well as composting and increasing the carbon content of the garden soil we are keen to help residents grow more food at home and perhaps make food choices that are use a little less meat and more vegetables and that use more local, seasonal and organic ingredients where possible.
There are plans to sell the church hall site for property development but we hope that won’t be for a year or two yet and in the meantime if you want to help then the Community Garden is open every Sunday from 11am till dusk.
Contact: Adrian Audsley 07818 426 506 adrianaudsley <at> yahoo.co.uk with any queries or offers or just turn up!
Hyde Farm CAN Annual Open Evenings
We have held successful annual open evenings in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Over 200 people attended the social evening at Telferscot School in June 2009 with 'stallholders' including the Energy Savings Trust, Green Homes Concierge Service, a local contractor specialising in draught-proofing and sash window restoration, plumbing and electrical contractors, a solar supplier, WRAP recycling advisor, Women's Environmental Network Carbon Counters, Food Up Front, local crafts from recycled materials etc. Contct us if you'd like to get involved for 2010, it's never too soon to start planning!
Draught-Busting
We run a series of draught-busting events in the homes of local residents, demonstrating the techniques we have developed to insulate our Edwardian homes. Please contact us if you are interested as we have draught-proofing and insulation materials to sell at reduced prices. Likewise we are happy to share our learning with other local community groups with a similar housing stock.
Other Events and Activities
There are lots of other initiatives and social events underway locally such as film showings and visits to eco-buildings and the waste/re-cycling centre. We actively support Balham Green Drinks at the Balham Bowls Club, Ramsden Road, SW12 on the first Thursday of the month from 7 - 10pm. Most importantly we have got a debate going at a local level - and established a support network.