| Dear Friend, It’s the final newsletter of 2023! We really would like to send out a huge thank you to everyone who has visited, our partners, trustees, friends and family who help us in so many different ways to be able to continue doing what we do here at STAA. Your support really means a lot to us. To our incredible team of volunteers, thank you so much for your commitment and contribution to our projects and the local community, you really are amazing. Here is just a small selection of photos from some of the things we have done this year and people we have connected with.
We also have an exciting announcement to share with you… As of last week, we became an approved centre for City & Guilds courses! This is a very exciting step for us as we head into the new year – more information on this towards the end of the newsletter. It really is a great end to our 25th year as a registered charity. A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all from everyone here at TeamSTAA! PS. If you’d like to receive news like this in your inbox each month, join our mailing list here.
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Christmas Closure
We will be closed from Sunday 24th December ’23 – Monday 1st January ’24.
Upcoming Workshops
Looking for gifting ideas this Christmas?! We do offer gift cards for our workshops, so you can share our horticultural, floristry and seasonal crafts experiences with friends and family.
Christmas Wreath Making
Wednesday 6th December – 10.00 – 12.30 – £45
A relaxing and creative session using natural materials to make your own Christmas wreath using fresh and dried foliage. Materials and festive refreshments are included.
Learn How To Build Compost Bins
Saturday 9th December 13.30 – 16.00 – £30
Everything you need to know to build your own compost bin at home, as well as the characteristics of a good compost system.
Planning your Cut Flower Garden
Saturday 10th February 10.00 – 12.30 – £25
We will share with you the simple secrets behind our cut flower garden so you can successfully grow beautiful cut flowers for yourself and to gift to your friends and family.
Fruit Tree Pruning
Saturday 10th February 13.30 – 16.00 – £30
Come along for a masterclass in all aspects of tree care including how to rejuvenate old trees and formatively prune new trees to achieve the perfect crop.
Make Your Own Spring Hardy Hanging Basket
Saturday 24th February 10.00 – 12.30 – £40
Come along and create a lovely, large, moss lined basket full of hardy colourful flowers, mini shrubs and gorgeous Spring bulbs to brighten up your garden.
Planning Your Edible Garden
Saturday 24th February 13.30 – 16.00 – £25
A full rundown of what to plant where, and why. Learn how to plan your rotation and about the right materials to feed the soil to save time and tragedy in the future.
On the Orchard
The Community Orchard runs free events for all ages.
New Shoots, every Tuesday in term time, 09:30-11:00
After School, every Wednesday in term time, 15:30-17:00
Community Open Day, (Christmas Special!) Saturday 23rd December, 12:00-15:00. Click here, to book your free ticket!
Volunteering & Social Gardening
Volunteering continues as usual, with plenty of opportunities to join us!
Tuesdays at the Nursery, 10:00-14:00
Digging, sowing, pruning, clearing, building, watering, harvesting! All things food and flower focused for a productive garden.
Wednesdays at Oliver’s, 10:00-14:00
Help maintain a beautiful display garden for visitors to enjoy, and promote its heritage features.
Our Social Gardening sessions will run alongside our usual volunteer sessions, giving you the perfect opportunity to come and enjoy the the beautiful spaces, see our volunteer projects and have a go if you wish!
Volunteer inductions:
Tuesday 12th December 10.00 – 12.00
Wednesday 17th January 10.00 – 12.00
Saturday 10th February 14.00 – 16.00
This is an introductory session for anyone interested in volunteering at STAA. Receive a tour of our projects to find out what you might be interested in, and an opportunity to meet people and ask questions.
If you have any questions about volunteering or social gardening, please contact Lucy at volunteer@staa-allotments.org.uk or visit our volunteer page.
Learning Opportunities
We’re excited to announce that we are now a City & Guild’s approved centre!
Launching in January 2024 we will be delivering City & Guilds courses in Practical Horticulture Skills (7573) across our four project sites on St Ann’s Allotments. These courses will lead to your choice of City & Guilds Award, Certificate or Diploma at Level 1 or 2.
There are two courses available:
Pro Gardener: which focusses on fundamental practical skills in horticulture such as pruning and plant identification.
Grow Your Own: which will develop your skills in growing and maintaining growing spaces and improving soil fertility.
These qualifications are perfect for those who have a passion for learning about horticulture and want to develop their skills further and for people who work or want to work within the horticulture industry.
If you think you might be interested in gaining further qualifications in horticulture, please click here to visit our website or email kayleigh@staa-allotments for more information.
You can also attend one of our open days on Saturday 13th January 2024 where you can visit the site, ask questions and meet the course leaders!
Click here to book on!
Join the Team
We’re expanding our board of trustees!
We’re looking for new trustees to join us in helping improve peoples lives through sustainable allotment gardening, promoting the heritage of the Grade II* Listed site, and providing personal development opportunities to local people.
If you are passioniate about the community and this sounds like the opportunity for you, head to our webpage here for more information or contact Kayleigh for an information pack at kayleigh@staa-allotments.org.uk.
Closing date for applications is Wednesday 10th January 2024 at 5pm.
