This piece for the first garden update of 2022 is about destruction and renewal.
As you probably know by now storm ‘Arwen’ did enormous damage all over the country and our community garden didn’t escape. Due to the unusual power and northerly direction of the winds three very large False Cypress trees were blown over onto the Polytunnel causing the collapse of the bottom half of the structure the large metal hoops were buckled like straws. The front sliding doors were completely destroyed like there had been an explosion!
Thankfully the strong metal tables halted the complete collapse thus sparing the propagator and adjacent beds. Because the trees were held up by the tunnel damage to the toilet and water butts was avoided.
However although we had to close the garden, especially access to the tunnel, we were able to deliver the Christmas veg boxes as usual.
Thankfully we have had a comparatively quick response from our insurance company giving us the go ahead to get a quote from the tree surgeons’ Special Branch’ (geddit?) and they have begun the clearance of the trees last weekend. We’re very fortunate to get them in so soon as all tree surgeons are in great demand as you can imagine.
We have been heartened by all the concern and support we have received. We would particularly like to say a warm thank you to Linsay Horsburgh, who set up a Just Giving page to raise money for PLANT, and also a donation from her union Unite. While the damage to the polytunnel itself is covered by our insurance, the Garden has been affected by the storm in many ways, and the money will be a big help in restoring it to normal. Thank you Linsay!
Another large tree came down on the green with no collateral damage but as it was probably going to act as a magnet for passing children to play on so it was made safe by Will Whitfield with Craig, Bill and I helping with the clearance and stacking of the branches.
After the weight of the trees has been removed we can safely take detailed photos of the damage and send them to the company who provided the Polytunnel and get an assessment from them to say whether it will be a repair job or a complete replacement and provide a quote for the insurance company. We hope that we will have the tunnel back for the summer crops, the renewal continues with our propagator at home filling up with new sowings and emerging seedlings.
On another positive note work has started on the construction of the polycrub, this is like a Polytunnel but using double skinned polycarbonate sheets which affords a warmer growing and learning space.
Meanwhile Kirsty has put together a long list of ‘to do’ jobs for our returning volunteers, get in touch with our volunteer coordinator, Ali on volunteer@tayportgarden.org for further details for volunteers and information about future events.
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Everyone at PLANT was very upset by the damage done by Storm Arwen to Tayport Community Garden and in particular to our polytunnel. We have been heartened by all the concern and support we have received. We would particularly like to so a warm thank you to Linsay Horsburgh, who set up a Just Giving page to raise money for PLANT, and also a donation from her union Unite. While the damage to the polytunnel itself is covered by our insurance, the Garden has been affected by the storm in many ways, and the money will be a big help in restoring it to normal. Thank you Linsay!
