Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden is the WINNER of The Co-operative South-East Region Members' Big Community Vote 2011

Hope you’ve all enjoyed a good summer – now it’s that ‘back to school ‘ feeling, with the evenings drawing in and leaves already starting to fall! And around now is the preparation time for winter and Spring 2012  planting n gardens … yes, you all know what I’m hinting at!

If you’ve seen Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden Sanctuary Facebook page (click here for the link) you will have seen the amazing amount of digging that several human JCBs performed last month – an outstanding effort.  The dug soil from the wildlife pond zone has been removed to be landscaped into a raised, sunny south-facing, ‘dyke’ bordering the community orchard area.

The next volunteer / Open day in the garden is Saturday 10 September – 10am – 5pm

And – it’s a VERY SPECIAL DAY – not only is there lots of seasonal tidying up to get your teeth into (Oh, yes, indeedy!) BUT

I’m delighted to announce that today we’ve been informed that

Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden is the WINNER

of The Co-operative South-East Region Members’ Big Community Vote 2011

http://bigcommunityvote.co-operative.coop/partnership/Cortis-Avenue-Wildlife-Garden-Sanctuary/

We received 29 per cent share of the votes.  Other shortlisted local causes received  19, 18, 18 and 16 percent shares respectively.  Thank you all and everyone for voting and helping to win this wonderful boost for the work of Worthing’s first community garden. The £2,000 Award will go towards construction materials for essential structures in the garden – not least to progress the building of an off-grid toilet – and what a ‘relief’ that will be – with disabled access to enable all users of the garden.

The Co-operative is keen (within the next three weeks e.g. > 18^th September) for a photo-shoot and all the attendant good PR opps  for Worthing’s first community garden  – I’m suggesting Saturday 10^th September in the garden, the regular monthly volunteer day which I know you all have in your diaries!

It would be fantastic to have as many possible of you good people in the photo, perhaps brandishing a garden implement or two?  Saturday 10^th September is the date suggested to the Co-op – and I will confirm this ASAP – however, a good old tidy up in the garden on Saturday will be great for photo shoots in the near future.

Meanwhile, very many thanks to you all for a fantastic effort in securing enough votes to win this award.

Take care and see you soon

Hille Cook Group Contact

Hille