The idea of a Newlyn-wide gardening group began in 2019 during one of the local residents’ gardening sessions at Rosebud Gardens, St Peter’s Hill. A public meeting followed in January 2022 to gauge viability. Many of Newlyn’s local residents & businesses were spoken to & were in strong support of the idea & its’ aim to make the village look more attractive. In February 2022 a committee & group of volunteers was formed from local residents who enjoy gardening & whose aim is to get out & have fun whilst enhancing Newlyn’s green spaces attractively & sustainably. Newlyn Community Flora group is a constituted group with RHS affiliation, public liability insurance & a code of conduct; they are a Cormac-endorsed Volunteer Group who have secured funding from Penzance Council & The Rotary Club as well as donations from the public & local businesses. It is a group by the community for the community – open to everyone from all walks of life. They have received some great feedback whilst out working and they’d like to think that this means that, in addition to the appearance, they are helping to improve the social fabric of the village & that their presence reminds people that there is a community spirit in Newlyn worth nurturing as well.
The group encourage biodiversity & sustainable gardening techniques wherever possible, using RHS plants for pollinator list & other green guidance. It is a great opportunity for people to get outside, meet new people, socialise, have fun, share knowledge, learn something and do good in the local community. They have strong links with Penzance Community Flora Group who are a huge inspiration, always there for help & guidance, plant donations & planters! – and lending some of their volunteers
There are on-going weeding & maintenance sessions happening & new plants are to be introduced over the coming months as funds allow. The group have planted daffodils & crocus bulbs all over Newlyn which were kindly donated by Varfell Farm & Rotary International. Planters have been planted up with daffodil bulbs ready to go out in spring. Work has also been carried out at Duke Street Car Park, the beds around St Peter’s Hill car park & the raised beds by the Old Bridge. The planter outside of Trelawney Fish was recently completed with the kind assistance of the Trelawney team on their lunch break.
There are monthly committee meetings to plan activities & a brand new poly-tunnel & composting site is underway & will be up & running in early 2023 for composting green waste, creating mulch, plant propagation, over-wintering sensitive plants, potting up & growing. The group are planning a few fundraising events for 2023 – these will be varied but always fun, family-friendly & inclusive; a great opportunity for the group, recent volunteers & potential new group members to find out what Newlyn Community Flora Group is all about.
You can follow this fantastic community groups’ progress on facebook & they can be contacted via email at newlyncommunityfloragroup@gmail.com for further information or if you are interested in volunteering.
Keep up the good work guys & a BIG thank you for helping to make Newlyn look fabulous!
