It was with some trepidation that we decided to run another open day, at the end of the growing season in late September, after the huge success of the one held in May.
We needn’t have worried as lots of families came on the day and stayed for the range of activities on offer, to enjoy conversations over Gill’s amazing scones and tea to the soothing melody of a harp. The children were well catered for: storytelling in the yurt, a poem garden hunt, and the chance to make a herb buddy or an apple-stamp placemat. Fresh produce and winter flowering plants were available for a donation and the opportunity to join a rousing drum circle in our Mongolian yurt or quietly reflect on poetry written by our service users. It was a celebration of the season, amidst falling leaves, apples galore and the golden light of autumn. As growth slowed with the waning sun we enjoyed a very busy couple of months with no less than four schools visiting the CMG to learn about homelessness and ecology. We also had a number of corporate groups who helped dig out the last of the weeds, and dig in manure to prepare for the year ahead. They also laid down a new raised bed growing area so that those with difficulty bending down can still plant. We also saw the creation of an impressive “bug hotel” to attract beneficial creatures to the garden plus lots more. Thank you so much to those companies, Mondelez International, ihs and Chelsea Building society and to West Herts College students who winter planted in our new raised beds and have vibrantly decorated the area. We are pleased to announce that we have recently formed two strong partnerships. The first with Together Timebank resulting so far in a new poetry group, drumming session and a social event at the CMG, and Guideposts Trust to enable us to offer our service users more specialist services in a beautiful setting, an ever increasing number of whom suffer from mental health problems. Mitzvah day on 17th November saw upwards of 40 people of all generations from the Jewish community jump into action, gathering leaves, planting, weeding, filling raised beds, removing a dead tree and sending a clear message that they care about the problem of social exclusion and are not afraid of hard work in the cold. As a very successful year comes to an end our amazing Development Manager Rebecca has left us for now, leaving us with mixed feelings. We are happy because she is growing a child and sad because she has managed the CMG in a way that has allowed it to thrive and flourish. She will be greatly missed here. “A bientot” Rebecca.