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 Elizabeth and two gardeners Kalil Mia and daughter Fahmida, 14 |
Garden volunteers dig deep to find last £5,000
PLANS for a new eco-friendly resource centre and office at the popular Culpeper Community Garden in Angel could be put on hold for the sake of just £5,000.
Cancellation of the scheme will come as a great disappointment to volunteers at the Cloudesley Road garden who have already struggled to raise a massive £200,000 over four years from grants and dozens of charitable events.
But a final £45,000 charitable grant is now dependent on additional match-funding which is still £5,000 short of target.
Elizabeth Evans, chairwoman of the garden committee, said the extra £5,000 would have to be found by the end of the month if the project is to go ahead.
She said: “It would be a terrible waste to get so far with fundraising only for the project to fail for the sake of a few thousand pounds.”
Part of the problem is that garden management receives no regular funding from Islington Council or the government, she said.
Mrs Evans added: “Instead, we have to struggle to survive by relying on charitable handouts on a year-by-year basis. It means that, in addition to having to raise £35,000 annually for the garden for our part-time workers, we also have to beg for cash for other projects like the new office.”
Culpeper provides 50 free plots to nearby residents without gardens who can grow their own vegetables, flowers or herbs. It also has an organic garden, lawn, ponds, rose pergolas, ornamental beds and a wildlife area. There are two raised beds for disabled gardeners.
A former derelict site, the garden was saved from developers by a formidable campaign by residents 25 years ago.
Culpeper, which was opened by singer Lulu, regularly wins awards and featured recently on BBC television’s Gardeners’ World programme.
The previous Labour-controlled council provided an annual £12,000 grant, which was axed when the Lib Dems came to power seven years ago.
Mrs Evans added that up to 100 people can sit in the garden on a sunny day with their sandwiches. “Which means we often spend time cleaning up litter,” she said. “On top of that there is the occasional vandalism, which is very upsetting.”
Donations can be made by cheque payable to Culpeper Community Garden and sent to 50 Aden Grove, N16 9NJ. Alternatively, donations can be handed over to staff at the garden between 10am and 4pm. |
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