Greatest Hits and Highlights

The team will be going over and digesting the full minutes soon to help steer the garden in the coming months. For now, here are a few of the more common themes from this week's meetings:

Matters arising:

• Saturdays going well and getting busy - volunteers needed to help open on Saturdays.
• 'Happy To Help' lanyards are a hit - anyone can wear one if they would like.

Mental Health Awareness Week:

• 'Chatty Bench' in town is looking like a goer - look out for opportunities to volunteer to help with this.
• Connecting with other local groups and organisations was a popular idea.
• Open-to-all coffee morning on 9/5/22 and other suggestions to bring people in to the garden during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Tackling loneliness in the long term:

• More flyers and handouts to reach people who are not online.
• A-frames and possibly a return of the flag-banner in the alley to welcome people in to the garden.
• Ways to reach new groups: families, younger people.

Platinum Jubilee / summer party:

• Lots of thoughts and feelings from all points on the spectrum of whether to Jubilee or simply party! Look out for details of upcoming events online and at the garden.
• Most people suggested avoiding having something on days when official events are taking place.
• Tuesday's meeting spent a good 5 minutes listing different nostalgic foods that could be served at a tea party - I think we were all feeling hungry that day!

Reminders and updates:

• Faversham Counselling Service is available to everyone, with no need for a referral, details availabe at the garden.
• Upcoming new activities including Qi Gong and Drama, possibly 'Havening' too - 'Wellbeing Wednesdays'.

Cabin reopening:

• This was generally met with enthusiastic approval - it was felt that members can responsbily and conscientiously share this space.
• It was agreed that volunteers helping to serve in the cabin during particularly busy times may still need to close off this space for limited periods.

Trustee update:

• Funding activities and applications are a priority at the moment.
• The 'Vision and Learning' group are working to focus the efforts of the APCG team towards a long term vision and viability for the future.

Any other business:

• Finding quiet spaces and times at the garden is on people's minds - this is something we always want to hear about from people.
• New plant suggestions.
• Recognising volunteers' contributions to gardening, shed craftiness, cake baking, expanding horticulture qualifications, welcoming and helping members and visitors.