Planting continued at the Mill during July, with marginals around the pond to encourage wildlife dye plants in the raised beds and plants in forest garden to show visitors how growing can produce useful products sustainably, while improving the environment and reducing the use of chemicals.
We made contact on 7th July with a group called Low Carbon Lichfield (loCal) who have many aims in common with Forest Harvest. We therefore hope that some joint projects can be started in 2018. A film night organised by loCal to see “Demain” was inspirational, showing how positive change can be brought about by groups in education, agriculture, finance and industry.
Thank you loCal.
In July, Forest Harvest demonstrated at the “Fuse Festival”, organised by Lichfield Arts in Beacon Park. With thousands of visitors it was possible to meet people from all over the Midlands to spread the word of sustainability, raise some finance by selling some jars of honey, fill some places on our educational courses and enjoy the music.
Everyone is looking forward to next year.
A highlight in July was a beautiful evening at Greensforge Sailing Club, giving the scouts from the Cannock 1st Blackford Sea Scouts sailing training.
Left the coracles behind but lots of fun.
The first Eco Printing course on Monday 17th went well at the Mill with lots of interesting fabrics and colours produced.
Being one of the first full courses run at Woodmill, rather than the Oaks, it highlighted
improvements needed to further the enjoyment of visitors. A chimney for the stove is a must during the Autumn, to improve the efficiency of the stoves during the dyeing process and to direct the smoke away from the building.
An Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar was a very welcome visitor during July.
Is she pretending to be a broad bean?
Also new in July was involvement in the Lichfield in Bloom Competition.
There are three judging categories; horticulture, the environment and community.
With some funding from the Blooming Lichfield Group we were able to build 3 Hugelkultur beds at the entrances to the City.
This made a contribution to all of the categories, involving growing flowers for their colour and longevity, choosing plants that are insect friendly in a bed using natural sustainable waste. The beds were built by volunteers from the community and as such are educational.
Fingers crossed for RHS results in September