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General tidy up around the garden. Wear boots and bring refreshments.

On Sunday 2nd March we worked on re-laying the hedge near the fire pit. This involves cutting hazel to make stakes which are then driven into the ground at regular intervals along the hedge row. The remaining hazel is then bent over with just utilising it’s own bendy-ness or by cutting two thirds of the way through with a billhook. Here are some photos of the work being carried out.

We are hosting gardening days in 2025 on the first Sunday of the month. 12pm – 4pm.

This one will focus on clearing the swamp area.

Wear suitable clothing including gloves and boots. Tools are provided. Bring refreshments to share.

The site was first utilised as a mill pond for Callis Mill. After the mill had switched to coal power the mill pond became redundant and was then converted into a sewage works. As technology advanced the sewage works was able to occupy less footprint and so that section of it was abandoned by the 1980s. The site then became a park up place for travellers which had become a common feature in the run down mill town of Hebden Bridge. 

With the formalisation of the canal moorings in 2004 the site started being used as an informal community garden. Not long after the owners of the land, Yorkshire Water decided to create a flood aliveation installation on the site. This meant bulldozing the gardens to create a space where the river could burst it banks without flooding into the canal. There were protests but ultimately the works were completed.

Unhindered by the upheaval the boaters and wider community came together to create a new garden for everyone to enjoy.

20 years on and we have now formalised things in the form of this charity with an understanding from the land owner that we use that structure to care for the land.

Check out this link for more history of the site. 

https://www.charlestownhistory.org.uk/pages/callis#gsc.tab=0

By removing the willow from the wetland we hope we can encourage other plants to grow. Some hopefull beginings are sprouting up.

We had a successful day coppicing in the garden allowing light through to the fruit trees.

Now that winter has arrived we are hunkering down and keeping warm. We decided to start a mapping project so that we can make batter plans for the garden in the future. We are aiming to make all the trees so that we can decide what to coppice over winter.

We always welcome our 4 legged friends is this is the newest member of the community of boaters who live next to the garden in their narrowboats. Billy only has 3 legs and is absolutely adorable.

A few of us got together to harvest the many fruits and vegetables grown in the garden during the year. It’s been a great year for apples.

Not a garden related post but several members of the garden visited the gay pride event in Hebden Bridge and had a great day out. Just a post to underline how the garden in run on a basis that is inclusive to all members of our community.