23/07/2025
Scissett Community Garden Update and Plans April 2025
Summary Of Work Completed Since April 2024:
A Denby Dale Parish Environmental Trust grant and a Community grant enabled us to complete tasks in the orchard and begin work in the proposed allotment and garden areas as follows:
• A mini digger was hired to clear away the derelict greenhouse bases.
• A stump grinder was hired to remove stumps from the top orchard path, allowing us to join up and complete the new and existing paths.
• Tree surgeons cut down and removed the fallen willow on the allotment site.
• Spring bulbs, ferns and woodland wildflowers donated by individuals and Dobbies were planted by volunteers and the Shepley WI gardening club.
• Links were established with Scissett Squirrels and Northern Network, and we are registered as a ‘Coronation Garden’.
• A wassailing in the orchard was attended by 38 volunteers and guests, including MP Jade Botterill. Some items for the wassailing and refreshments were donated by Tesco Express, Scissett.
• In their weekly gardening sessions, pupils from Joseph Norton Academy built a bug hotel, sorted out building materials and cleared rubbish and weeds from all over the site.
• Bird and bat boxes were installed.
• Part of the collapsed dry-stone wall was repaired.
• A dead hedge boundary was established on each side of the diagonal path through the orchard beds.
• Access paths were cleared through the allotment and garden site to the church lane
• The allotment ground was marked out for installation of compost heaps and hügelkultur beds.
• An Instagram account was set up to record our progress and sources of inspiration
