Garden / TCV

Tree Fun Day with TCV

June 6, 2013 by Inkwell in Garden / TCV | Leave a comment
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TCV’s ( The Conservation Volunteers) work in our garden never ceases to amaze, from raised planters that take them just one day to build to pretty planted borders filled with strawberries and redcurrants our garden is really coming to bloom.

TCV are having their annual Tree Fun day and plant sale at Hollybush and what better way to find out more about them, visit the wonderful Hollybush site and meet the team. There will be lots for you to do and enjoy from sampling homemade cakes and other delicious food from their new cafe and various craft activities to try.

They will also be selling wood craft items made by them and hand painted plant boxes and pots.

Come along and join in the fun and feel a little more green fingered too!

 

April Garden

April 28, 2013 by Inkwell in Garden / TCV | Leave a comment
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April is always such a productive time in the Inkwell garden. Our May Day Event is just around the corner and Spring also feels like its finally here so everyone’s energy levels are up and work really takes off.

This year, plans have been made to really spruce up the patio area. The pallet furniture project has been put on hold for a few weeks as sourcing pallets has been harder than we originally thought. We are collecting them gradually, building up a stock of them so we can start work. Ideally the pallets needed have to be roughly the same size, this would make the build a lot simpler. Now, pallets aren’t just pallets as it turns out, they come in so many different sizes, quality, wood treatments and dimensions.

This hold up didn’t mean the patio couldn’t have a little TLC now anyway. We are always so inspired by the work TCV do at Inkwell and their clever use of recycled objects. The idea of turning old tin cans into colourful painted planters seemed too good an idea not to try.

Tin Can planters

We began by spraying them blue with paint suited for outdoors then once dried a few drainage holes can be punched into the base using a hammer and nail. A couple more holes for some wire hooks were punched on the top and they were ready to be hung up outside. The bright Mediterranean blue really complimented the blue fence we painted last year which now has fresh herb planters for use by our cooks in the kitchen.

Recycled garden

 

herb Planters

The colourful painted tyres have now been positioned in the garden and will soon be filled with soil and planted up by TCV who have also been extremely busy creating a whole new raised bed area on the left side of our garden. We really can’t thank TCV enough for being here and are absolutely thrilled that more funding has been secured so they can continue to be here and do the valuable work that they do with their volunteers. Green Gym happens every Tuesday at Inkwell, so if you’re interested in helping and love gardening, TCV welcome anyone to come along and join their friendly team.

Painted tyres

You may not believe it but the TCV team build and position one of these raised beds in just one day! It’s incredible what team work can achieve. The whole area has been covered with bark chippings which really adds the finishing touch to the garden space.

TCV raised bed building

Many hands makes light work

raised beds 2

Work in progress

Raised beds

What a transformation! The finished raised beds.

 

 

Outdoor Pallet Furniture

March 9, 2013 by Inkwell in Garden / TCV | 4 Comments
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It’s nearly Spring, you can feel it! The Daffodils in the garden are starting to bloom and recently we have had some lovely sunny days that enticed us outdoors and let us bask in the warm sunshine. We love this time of year as it means plans for May Day are being hatched and the long balmy days of summer seem not too far away.

The garden at Inkwell is lovingly cared for by the wonderful TCV who have been busy transforming the large space all through the winter months. TCV cleverly re-use and recycle materials to make raised beds, planters and fencing for our large garden. They have worked hard all year and soon the fruits of their labour will be enjoyed by all as the good weather brings more people out of the art space and into the garden.

Recently, thoughts have turned to our large terrace which has so much potential. We want it to be an area for everyone to enjoy; our artists, our volunteers, staff and local community. The Saturday Cafe brings people from the community into our space every weekend and the terrace offers a lovely place for an al fresco lunch or for children to enjoy our garden. It’s also a space used regularly by our artists and participants who need a break from their creative work and a chance to socialise and integrate.

The terrace at Inkwell

So, how do we transform an outdoor terrace with such a small budget? Pallets of course!

Pallet furniture is becoming more and more popular due to it’s cost effectiveness, quirky good looks and versatility. Our vision is to create modular seating, low level coffee tables and some higher level seating and tables too. The design has to be fairly flexible due to the number of different events and activities we have here at Inkwell such as May day, Bonfire Night, Instrumental, exhibitions and garden events. Our terrace design will be quirky, fun, stylish and practical and something that reflects the creative nature of our space and everyone who uses it. With the help of TCV, our volunteers and artists, work will start in transforming the terrace in April. It’s a very exciting project that will hopefully be completed by May 6th in time for our May Day Event.

These are just some of the designs that have inspired us…

 

 

See more great ideas on Decoist.com

Colourful painted pallet chairs by Gas and Air Studios

A colourful U shaped Seating area.

Pallet dining table

A fabulous indoor space using an eclectic mix of styles. There’s loads more pallet ideas here..

Easily assembled furniture

Natural coloured wooden pallet furniture.

There are so many designs that can be created from the humble pallet and these are just a few that we came across. We are very excited about the possibilities that pallets offer and will of course keep you all updated on our progress.

A Winter Garden

January 10, 2013 by Inkwell in Garden / TCV | Leave a comment
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I expect from the title of this post you will be preparing to see empty, bleak, snowy scenes and bare trees. I hate to disappoint but the Inkwell garden is always buzzing with activity and colour. In contrast to last year, the first few weeks of 2013 have been relatively mild so lots has been happening in the garden. However, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like as TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) work tirelessly in our garden come rain or shine.

We haven’t blogged about what’s been happening in the garden for a while, there seems to be so much happening indoors at this time of year, so it’s time for a quick tour and update.

All winter, when most gardeners are waiting for Spring, our garden has still been transforming with the help of TCV. The paved area for the perfume garden is completed and the beds surrounding it have all been dug. The terracotta paving is down and all that’s needed are some plants to be put in when the warmer weather arrives. We hope that by summer time they will be blossoming and thriving, releasing their delicious scents to entice the senses.

Terracotta paving in the new perfumed garden

TCV are proficient at recycling and have used many once discarded or wasted materials to create anything from compost boxes to shelving, planters and garden edging. Old tyres have been used to make containers and even CDs have been used to help deter the feathered population of Chapel A from destroying the crops - which really does work by the way!

Painted recycled tyres - ready to be used as colourful planters

A splash of colour from some winter primroses

There are still crops growing in the garden at the moment, the square wooden planters with Spring cabbages are coming up nicely and we look forward to some vegetables that we can use in our kitchen for the Saturday Cafe. Homemade apple and cabbage coleslaw anyone?

Spring cabbages

The group have cleverly shelved the greenhouses using recycled timber creating neat rows for the pots and seedlings to sit on. The spinach plants will grow quite rapidly and will soon be ready to cook. Another staple ingredient in our kitchen for Saturdays.

Spinach pots in the greenhouse

Up on the terrace sits our rather glorious Bay Tree which we were kindly donated a couple of years ago. With the help and TLC from the very greenfingered TCV it’s now thriving and looking healthier than ever. A herb garden will be one of the next things to tackle, meaning we will be growing even more of our own food.

Fresh Bay leaves for our kitchen

We are looking forward to seeing further developments in the garden. Spring is just around the corner and all the hard work over the winter will soon pay off with glorious results.

The Green Gym group meets every Tuesday at Inkwell from 10am. If you would like to get involved with transforming our large outdoor space into a community garden please feel free to come along and meet the team.You can also give us a call on 0113 3070108 for more information.

 

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