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SATURDAY JUNE 7, 2014
SATURDAY JUNE 7, 2014
nottinghampost.com
Shopping
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retail therapy
Just like mighty oaks that grow from little acorns, there’s huge potential for a small Notts venture called the Flower Pod. Lynette Pinchess finds out how it has progressed from rubble to blooms
Retro vinyl coasters, pack of six, £12, John Lewis, Victoria Centre, www.johnlewis.com
Old Fossil, £8.50, Hotel Chocolat, Albert Street, www.hotelchocolat.com
Make dad’s day
World map flask and cup, £12.95, www.dot comgift shop.com
There are far more imaginative presents than socks and handkerchiefs for dads this Father’s Day. With our handy gift guide there’s no excuse, says Lynette Pinchess
Thomas Nash silver ‘I love my Dad’ cufflinks, £20, Debenhams, Long Row, www.deben hams.com
Dad – The Collection compilation CD, £5, Asda, West Bridgford, Long Eaton and Hyson Green, www.asda.com
Hoppy Father’s Day card, £2.99. Scribbler, Bridlesmith Gate, www.scribbler.com
Retro Diner Stick Snack Maker, makes anything from waffle dogs to pizza on a stick, cake or even jalapeno poppers, £22.99, www.thehut.com
Every Saturday we ask someone in Notts about their favourite shop This week, fashion blogger and university student Katie Chubb explains why she loves to go vintage when it comes to roaming the high street. Her blog, www.wearthe frocks.blogspot.co.uk, is full of retro inspiration and shows just some of the many bargains and jewels that Katie has hunted down in Nottingham. She says: “Baklash vintage shop is one of my favourite places in Nottingham. When you go into the store, it’s just a rainbow of colours, textures and patterns. “The owner and staff are really helpful and offer so much assistance when needed. “It's a good traditional vintage store with a really fast stock turnover so it's worth visiting often. Everything always disappears quickly though, so it’s worth grabbing a great piece when you can. “Their bargain basement area is a treasure trove and with deals like three items for £10, it's a must-visit when you’re on a student budget.”
From tiny
acorns... ing disabilities. The Flower Pod is part of the umbrella charity Reach Learning Disability, which until recently was known as Southwell Care, and runs a wide range of courses including healthy cookery, money management, drama, yoga and singing. Sixteen people, with a range of learning disabilities, attend the Flower Pod for two days a week but Anna would like to increase it to four days for 40 adults. Each person has a different skill to contribute. It’s planting seeds and cuttings for Phil Cree, a 49-year-old, from Newark, who says: “I like the fresh air.” Stu Sykes has the important job of writing labels for all the different seeds, bulbs and cuttings – plus he makes a decent cup of tea for visitors. The 44-year-old, who lives in Newark, says: “I like everything. I like being outside, meeting people and seeing things grow.” Jenny Wellburn is an energetic 25-year-old, who lives in Newark. Anna says: “She is a wonderful team asset in terms of her cheerfulness. She has a fantastic sense of humour and is a delight to have on board.” Some are doing so well that they can now teach others and are capable of paid work. Most are from Southwell, Newark and Mansfield, but the project would like to welcome
A bouquet from the Flower Pod. those from the city. “We need clients from Nottingham. Get the 100 bus to the country and see what we’re doing,” says Anna, adding that taster sessions are available before committing to the scheme. Heading up the volunteers are Bridget O’Shea, who is in charge of marketing, and Fiona Nicholson, who uses all her expertise as plant scientist and horticulturist to nurture the blooms. “We work whatever the weather. Before building the polytunnels we were out in the freezing cold,” she says. “There is a re-emergence of the British cut flower industry but artisan growers tend to stop in winter. The main season in
Flower Pod client Laura Scall in one of the polytunnels on the site. this country is April to the end of October.” Fiona volunteers seven days a week. “You can’t stop. Plants don’t know it’s the weekend,” she says. A year ago the land was rubble. Bulldozers were used to turn it into a south-facing site for flowers to get more sun. At 1.5 acres, the site, which has two polytunnels, a landscaped growing area and a purpose-built workshop, is the perfect size to be dynamic but not too remote. Anna is buzzing with plans for the future, having just signed a lease for 20 years. An ambitious idea to build an amphitheatre on the site for drama performances ties in Client James Keane in the gardens. with another of Reach’s aims.
Eve Cope, owner of Baklash vintage clothes store in Market Street. “We need to encourage a lot of people onto the site to integrate with our clients, breaking down the barriers,” says Anna, adding that they’re already running talks and tours for groups like the WI, Rotary clubs and school children. Other plans are to grow vegetables to turn into soup for the Brackenhurst students in winter – and salad in the summer; making bird and bat boxes and keeping chickens. Because the site can’t be expanded – a massive bull in the neighbouring field may object – they’ve come up with a share a bed scheme inviting allotment holders and farmers to share some of their land. “In an ideal world in three years’ time we’ll have a mini bus to take groups out to these sites,” says Anna. As well as new clients, more helpers are always welcome. After a tour of the site, potential volunteer Jayne Martin, from Southwell, is convinced it’s the place for her. The part-time office worker says: “I think it’s absolutely amazing what they have done so far and the plans.” ■ The Flower Pod is holding an open day on June 14 from 10.30am-4.30pm. Tickets are £3. Turn up on the day or telephone 01636 819066. For more information about the project, go to www.reachuk.org
Do you have a favourite shop? Let us know at features@nottinghampost.com
steal vs spree Each week we source the best budget buys while keeping an Alist style and today we bring you an item that is a must-have year in, year out. Every girl needs a little black dress – it’s such a versatile piece and if you buy high quality it will save you from the dreaded ‘I’ve got nothing to wear’ dilemma for years. High quality doesn’t have to mean high price, though. Get Charlize Theron’s celebrity style with this mini shift black dress lookalike at Topshop for £25. Add a pastel clutch and shoes to give it a summer feel, or add classic metallic accessories to keep it classic. Kate Parker
Tee shift dress, was £45 now £25, Topshop, Victoria Centre, www.topshop.com
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Beer Garden in a Matchbox containing a packet of hop seeds, a chrome finish bottle opener keyring with the message No. 1 Dad and a limited edition collector’s card based on a vintage matchbox label design, £5.99, Marvling Bros Ltd, www.www.inamatchbox.com
FRAGRANT sweet peas, towering delphiniums and piercing blue cornflowers... it’s like walking through an English country garden. Soon the blooms will be cut and made into wedding bouquets, table decorations for cafes and conference displays. They’re all homegrown in Notts at the Flower Pod, a unique venture providing meaningful opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. Under the watchful eye and with the guiding hand of volunteers, men and women do everything from planting seeds to making up arrangements on land rented from Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst campus in Southwell. Most cut flowers in the UK are imported from abroad. Blooms grown all year round at the Flower Pod are all English, long-stemmed, scented and seasonal. Greenery, such as fennel, grasses and fern, is grown to provide foliage. “We did a wedding two weeks before Christmas with honesty, pampas grass, dried hydrangea and paper white daffodils,” says Anna Joyce, who is interim project manager. Prices are on a par with high street florists. Anna says: “I don’t want them to be a charity product. They are high end products. The flowers are the same price as a florist because they are fantastic. “You may not find varieties grown in a hot house but we can grow flowers just as beautiful.” Everything is made to order and the arrangements can be collected, delivered or posted with the slogan ‘scent in a box’. “The arrangements are not formulated or sculptured. They are much more free and naturalist. That is our brand,” explains Anna. With 11 weddings booked this year, it’s set to be a busy time.” If there’s a glut of flowers, they’ll be sold on a market stall in Southwell or some of the petals are dried and made into confetti. Money from sales is reinvested in the enterprise. The venture also adds colour to the life of adults with learn-
SHOPPING TRIP
Project co-ordinator Grace Hall among the plants at the Flower Pod.
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By Nord bread apron, £50, Occa-Home, www.occa-home.co.uk
Anchors soft wallet, £15, Paperchase, Low Pavement, www.paperchase.co.uk
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