Hames Hall and it's large old walled garden stands proudly overlooking Cockermouth and the hills of the Lake District. The garden is sheltered and sunny with brick walls on two sides and a lovely old beech hedge on another side. Volunteer gardeners will begin working there in Spring 2012.
Hames Hall project 2012
The most essential aspect of this project is the interaction between the community gardeners and the residents and their families. As the site develops there is sure to be much conversation about the changes especially the seasonal changes. With this most important aspect in mind we will be keeping a photographic/diary of that progress.
A seat will be placed around a tree in the centre of the growing area to allow residents to be near to the work being done and for conversations to take place.
The community gardeners to be involved will be discussing all the aims of the project at their first meeting and reviewing them regularly throughout the growing season. It is a wonderful opportunity to restore this wonderful old walled garden. Chris Root and his manager Annette will be working with us to establish a good working partnership. We have already developed a working dialogue with the residents and landlord of the cottages overlooking the garden.
The site will be developed to look as natural as possible. We have prepared a planned design that will encourage community gardening. Along the walled areas we will be digging out borders and planting soft fruit and flowers.. The long term objective is to plant espalier fruit trees against the taller walls. The established fruit trees will remain as an orchard.
The overall theme is looking towards the future and there will be events within the year to celebrate the work in the garden.
These events will be featured in our local newspaper so that the wider community can see the work of community gardens.