A new pyramid-shaped community greenhouse for Dartmouth came a step closer in summer 2017 with an award of £20,000 from the Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, following a successful application from Dartmouth Green Partnerships (Charity No.1164582).
DGP Chairman, Stevie Rogers said: ‘We are delighted to be able to announce this grant, and are very grateful to the Postcode Local Trust for their generous support which will enable us to start work on next phase of the pyramid greenhouse. We will be consulting with the designer, Hartley Botanicals on the next step. The grant provides us with the opportunity to launch a wider appeal for funds in September. We need to raise £100,000 in total for the greenhouse.
‘The Pyramid Greenhouse will be accessible to all the community, including visitors to Dartmouth. There will be perimeter and central staging work areas, with wheelchair access all around. In return for demolishing our old greenhouse to make a car park South Hams District Council gave us a paved base, supporting wall, water and electricity and an old hut. We have added a small temporary greenhouse and another hut.’
The Mayor of Dartmouth, Cllr Richard Cooke, who is also a DGP trustee said: Dartmouth Town Council is pleased to support the greenhouse project and delighted that such a generous grant has been awarded by the Postcode Local Trust.’ He is pictured below with DGP Chairman, Stevie Rogers, and with members of the team on the site.
The new greenhouse and garden area, will be used to grow-on floral displays for the town which are prepared by volunteers under the guidance of DGP. There will be gardening education for all ages and abilities, memory cafe days, and vegetables and cut flowers for community use. The existing surrounding potager beds already provide food crops and cut flowers from which the public can help themselves. The greenhouse will be open so the general public can see DGP’s work.
Stevie said: ‘Our displays this year have been very successful with over 100 hanging baskets (planted up with the help of the Dartmouth Brownies), riverside troughs and planters bursting with vibrant, colourful planting. We have been very pleased with the effect of our chosen ‘hot’ colours this summer which make a big impact. We are also responsible for several lovely planted boats near the river, in the gardens and at Townstal.
The Postcode Local Trust provides financial support for charities and good causes which help communities enhance their natural environment in a way that benefits the wider community.