When the idea of having a Community Nursery popped into the heads of some real Northern Southland Greenies, little did they know how much interest in this concept would be out there.
The support for this project has been overwhelming and, despite the official opening being delayed several months, there has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes.
The first success:
Community Trust of Southland, MPI Billion Trees Fund, and Northern Community Board – Community Partnership Fund provided funding to get the ground prepared and the section fully fenced off. Campbell Sheat was the man of the moment with his digger and team who got the fences up which meant that our volunteers could successfully install the wind cloth right around the section to try and stop some of the wind damage.
Part of the MPI Billion Trees Fund has also been used to be able to employ an Operations Manager and a Nursery Manager (both part time at this stage). Thanks to Catherine, our Nursery Manager, the nursery is starting to take shape and is looking fantastic ready for spring growth.
Thanks to the Grasslands Community Donation Fund, we have been able to purchase a shade house and a tunnel house from Morrifield in Invercargill. We try to use local where we can. The willing volunteers erected these during a couple of nursery sessions (they even read the instructions). Once up and securely fastened to the ground (those Northern Southland winds!!!) they have been put into great use and you can hear Josie’s excited whoops from the other end of Lumsden as she studies the growth in the propagating trays.
We have recently heard that our grant to Lotteries Community has been successful and that funding will go towards our ongoing operational costs.
Our picnic tables were purchased with a donation from the Mossburn Northern Southland Lions Club when they disbanded. It has been great to have somewhere to rest our weary limbs after a planting session, and enjoy a hot cuppa and some delicious refreshments.
Successful grants from the Meridian Power Up fund, the Creative Communities Fund and the Lotteries Heritage and Environment Fund puts the plan for creating a “Green Space” one step closer. With plants, information boards, seating and a lovely mural to look at, this will be a great space to hang out.
Still in the plans : more planting around Lumsden and possibly even doing up the building so it can be used to keep everyone dry and warm on less than pleasant days in the nursery.
A big thank you to all our funders so far, we couldn’t have got this far without your generous support! We can’t wait to see what we can achieve!
Please come and join us at The Plant Lovers’ Social Group every fortnight. You get to meet new people, get your nails filled with dirt and enjoy communicating with nature.