Dig for Diversity
DASH has recently taken on 3 allotment plots at the Belmore site, Burns Close, Hayes, UB4 OEJ. We have successfully received a grant from the Heathrow Community and Environment Awards in partnership with Groundwork Thames Valley, which will enable us to make the site accessible for wheelchair users, by laying paths and building raised beds.
This exciting new project will provide many opportunities such as education and training, and a safe and tranquil place to garden and grow your own fruit and vegetables.
A team of volunteers from Brunel University came last year and started the mammoth task of digging the site over, a composting toilet, which is wheelchair accessible, has been installed on the site by the London Borough of Hillingdon Green Spaces Team.
Thorney Mill St Georges Club, B&Q and Focus have kindly donated money which has enabled us to buy specialist tools.
A number of successful volunteer days have been held, and a large shed has been installed on site and an access path is currently being developed.
Two rescue hedgehogs have been released onto the site, to provide environmentally friendly pest control.
Plans have been drawn up for the site by David Boyd; we will be working towards implementing these over the coming summer months.
A flower planting day with children from Grange Park School will take place on the 9th June. These plants will encourage birds, bees and butterflies to the site.
We have held a number of successful team building days since the start of the year at the DASH allotment, situated in Burns Close, Hayes.
On the 25th and 25th January 2011 a team of staff volunteers from BA worked hard to start construction of the polytunnel and to set out the site layout on the ground.
The team worked really hard, and where really inspired to carry on despite the cold when they could see the fruits of their labour!
A further four days are planned for September this year.
We have also partnered with Brunel Staff volunteers and they have held 2 successful staff team building/volunteer days so far this year.
A team of eager Brunel staff volunteered on the site on the 8th April 2011, along with volunteers from HAGAM. Everyone mucked in together and enjoyed a pizza lunch together in the early Spring sunshine. The team finished of the poly tunnel and installed paths around the first raised beds.
On June 1st 2011 staff from Brunel's catering department held a team building day at the site, and worked hard to clear the long grass on the site and installed a second raised bed. They organised a BBQ in the evening which staff and volunteers from DASH joined. A great time was had by all, and they have promised to come back again later in the year.
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