Back at the Green Patch

After a short break from our Green Patch project 

we were glad to be back during the past week.

We were happy to find the sunflowers

 ice plant

peonies, evening primrose, wild strawberries

 verbascum and begonias are all doing well in their up-cycled planters.

The signs got their first coat of varnish

We spent time making a bird mobile

to install in one of the trees.

We also had time to work on our Weather Installation

Our second day was rainy but we couldn't stop smiling as we find the Green Patch, working in the fresh air , watching the seasons change, totally inspiring.

Our New Page on the Local Giving Website

We have been offered a fantastic opportunity!  Northamptonshire Community Foundation has invited Beanfield Artists to to be a part of Localgiving.com, a new website allowing charities and community groups to receive donations online for a three month trial period.

Working with UK Community Foundations, Localgiving.com was started to help communities engage with supporters online, letting them know about their volunteer and funding needs as well as the great work they are doing in the face of government cuts and increased need in the community.

We have a wealth of wonderful ideas and a proven track record delivering innovative, engaging projects. As we are a not for profit arts organisation which raises funds on a project by project basis we are keen to see if this new initiative can help us make our ideas a reality. We have two projects on our pages that we hope to find funding for.

The Art Of Growing

Beanfield Artists propose to become Artists in Residence at The Green Patch allotments in Kettering for 2 weeks in August 2012 and volunteers at Green Patch are keen to stage the project there. Art works will be made in a variety of ways, including the use of recycled and upcycled materials and the use of natural materials such as wood and stone. The project will identify and explore themes inspired by the allotments themselves.

Ticket Exchange Banners

During 2011 the artists staged The Ticket Exchange on trains in Derbyshire, inviting people to send a comment by postcard, about their journey. The artists wish to produce a creative response to the postcards with textiles, print, stitch and digital imagery in the first instance, to the postcards received. These will become the textile masters for a series of permanent artworks to be sited on Stations in Derbyshire and shared with the community. It is hoped that the artworks will encourage travellers and the local community to get involved with the Adopt A Station initiative.

If you would like to help us make a difference please follow the link below to make a donation any amount, large or small will be greatly appreciated.

http://localgiving.com/charity/beanfieldartists

Questions about Localgiving.com?

You can ring Northamptonshire Community Foundation on 01604 230033,

contact the Localgiving.com Help Desk on 0300 111 2340

or email help@localgiving.com

Spring Forwards

Whilst scoping our second Kettering Light Walk and looking for a place to plant some living willow  we came across The Green Patch Community Allotments run by Groundwork a wonderful growing resource in the heart of the community. We approached Lucy Darby, who said they had received a commemorative bench, and that a willow half bower would work perfectly with the bench adding some gentle shade. We had planned to plant the willows as the culmination of our next walk, but the walk had to be postponed and we had already collected the willow. To grow willow from unrooted cuttings or whips, the willow should be cut and planted after leaf fall and before leaf bud - usually during December, January and February. We decided it was best to go ahead with the planting.

Nigel helped us dig a channel for the whips

We began by setting in the uprights, pushing the longest sturdiest whips about 6 inches into the ground vertically to make the main structure. It took quite a lot of effort as the ground was still compacted and quite dry due to the lack of rain we have had in February.

Tying in the front of the arch. 

Once the diagonal whips were in position we began to weave them into shape. The interwoven diagonals are for strength to create an open lattice interlinked  feature, the tension of the willow should generally hold the structure together.

We then replaced the clumps of soil and turf, then tried out the Bower for size!

Winter Aconites seen on our walk

Getting ready for some more Guerilla Gardening

We were so glad to have been out in the fresh air planting that when we were next together in our studios we began preparing a new batch of seed bombs to take on our Finedon Light Walk. The clay had gone hard and was about to be thrown away when Carole salvaged the bags and reconstituted them in a bucket of water. It was still quite tough to excavate from the bucket but we had more than enough for our purposes! 

Clay and wild flower seeds

shaped with cookie cutters.

Carole has been popping back to The Green Patch 

at regular intervals to check on our willow's progress.

Nigel has been keeping The Bower well watered,

paving slabs have been placed under the bench and 

there is a mulch of bark chips around the whips.

 Vertical whips sprouting fresh growth  from the top

Diagonally planted whips sprouting along the 

full length giving a denser growth to the structure

We ordered our willow from here 

Willows Nursery Walgrave 

Northampton  NN6  9QA