Open Gardens Dosh
To the Old Rectory! …on Sunday for a luncheon get together with everyone involved in Wivenhoe Open Gardens 2012. For an event that encourages the public access to very private spaces, it was fitting that the garden lawn of the good Rev Erwin Lammens was kindly offered up to reflect on the success of the weekend back in May.
The rich greens of the moist May conditions may have faded around the borders, but the memories of Open Gardens were there to be talked about. Failing that and a clickety click has the online archive captured from now until, oooh, whenever I can be bothered to keep paying the modern interweb bill.
Most of the keen and kind gardeners from the thirty private spaces that were opened up had assembled. In between bites of the sausage rolls and volovants, conversation turned towards the rewards for taking part, and the possibility of opening up the gardens for 2013 - non-committed, but not entirely sure if anyone wants to walk around a garden covered in mad cat pooh.
But the occasion was more than just a green-fingered gossip. Central to the Old Rectory gathering was the formal presentation of the two cheques to the benefactors of Open Gardens.
Wivenhoe Society Chair Dave Harrison explained how the event is jointly run by both Wiv Soc and St Mary’s. Any funds raised are also spilt. Which for 2012 meant an impressive £1,500 heading the way of St Mary’s and Wiv Soc.
Accepting the cheque on behalf of St Mary’s, the good Rev Erwin said:
“I would like to thank everyone for helping to organise what is a genuine community event. It is fantastic to see so many people during the weekend wander around Wivenhoe, as well as all of the preparations that go into the gardens. This is brilliant for Wivenhoe.
I can assure you that the money presented here today will be used to help the community. We will make sure that St Mary’s is used as a community facility.”
The Wiv Soc wonga has already been put aside for the chosen cause for 2012: the Wivenhoe Town Council organised Jubilee Garden at the back of the Town Council offices.
Mayor Penny Kraft accepted the cheque, and added:
“I would like to congratulate the Wivenhoe Society Committee for organising Open Gardens weekend. We will use the money to help fund the Wivenhoe Jubilee Garden. It doesn’t look like much now, but it will once all of the plans are complete. The Jubilee Garden is something for all of Wivenhoe and the community.”
Soon the starched lawns of the summer (ish) of 2012 will be reduced to patchy clumps of autumnal mud. The frost will do some damage, until the daffs start to poke through early in 2013.
Time to clean the mad cat pooh up.
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