Aylesbury Vale District Council

Garden Share Project

 

AYLESBURY TOWN COUNCIL PLANTS GREEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE GARDEN SHARE PROJECT

 

Aylesbury Town Council is launching an exciting new green initiative for the town: the Garden Share Project. Garden sharing is a relatively new idea which is gaining increasing popularity across the nation. The concept is simple; in exchange for a percentage of the produce, a garden owner lets a growing partner have access to their garden in order to cultivate part of the land.

A garden owner could be someone who has little growing experience and would like to learn from a seasoned professional before taking on their own project; they could be someone who finds gardening a physical challenge; or, they could be a hard worker who is pushed for time and is sad to see the land go to waste.

Growing partners could be people who are keen to get to work, but are intimidated by the size of an allotment, or indeed the waiting list; they could be green fingered horticulturalists keen to pass on their knowledge to others; or, they could be growers with a social conscious, keen to assist those who may need a helping hand.

 

After a few details are taken, Aylesbury Town Council will try and match the needs of individuals from each group in the effort to create a strong and lasting partnership. An agreement drawn up between both parties will set out the expectations of the experience, allowing specific requirements to be tailored to the needs of both the growing partner and the garden owner. Aylesbury Town Council will strive to make sure that this is a smooth process and will check in on each partnership regularly.

There are a number of real benefits from this project. On top of learning practical skills and methods, gardening is a low intensity activity which is a great form of gentle exercise. The produce is healthy, and helps to reduce food miles – the distance food travels between growth and consumption. In addition, growing your own produce can be incredibly rewarding, and you may even shave some money off your grocery bill. On top of this there is the potential for the development of valuable social relationships – particularly for older people who may not have the same opportunities as others.

 

If you would like to know more, or sign up as a garden owner or gardener, then please visit the website, www.aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone 01296 425678.

Cyclist Dashes between three Buckinghamshire Mayors

Cyclist dashes between three Buckinghamshire mayors to raise awareness for his record-breaking attempt in aid of local charity, MapAction

Police officer, Stephen Phillips, is aiming to break the world record for cycling around the globe and, in doing so, is raising money for local charity, MapAction.

Stephen will set off from Greenwich, London on 18 February to cycle 18,000 miles around the world as part of the Global Cycle Race. Stephen will cycle through 17 countries, including many disaster-prone areas where MapAction has used its skills to help save lives. He aims to cross the finish line 160 days later, thereby breaking the world record which stands at 163 days.

Not content with racing around the world in aid of MapAction, Stephen is also raising awareness for MapAction’s work by racing between the three Buckinghamshire mayors on 23 October 2011 in what he’s calling “The Three Mayors Challenge”. He aims to complete his 23-mile ride between Aylesbury, Amersham and High Wycombe within 2 hours, having met the local mayor at each location.

His itinerary on Sunday 23rd October is as follows:

 

10:30am

Meet Aylesbury Mayor, Councillor Mrs Jenny Puddefoot (photo opportunity)

Location: Aylesbury Town Hall, 5 Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

 

11:00am – set off from Aylesbury Town Hall

 

12:15pm (approx) arrive Amersham Council offices

Meet Amersham Mayor, Councillor Mimi Harker (photo opportunity)

Location: King George V House, King George V Road, Amersham HP6 5AW

 

13:00pm (approx) arrive High Wycombe Council offices

Meet High Wycombe Mayor, Councillor Chaudhary Allah Ditta (photo opportunity)

Location: High Wycombe Council, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe HP11 1BB

 

Stephen Phillips says: “My route will visit some of the areas of the globe where there have been recent disasters both manmade and natural. I hope to produce a photographic diary of my journey through those areas and the people I meet there which I will use to raise awareness of MapAction.

I’m personally hoping to have an event-free ride around the world, but if I did somehow end up embroiled in a disaster, I’d want to know there were people like MapAction out there to find and help me.  the mileage? If not, I'lections and in your own words, but  disaster zone urgency of MapAction'- e.The importance and urgency of MapAction’s work will give me the impetus to keep going when things get tough.”

Chloe Browitt, Head of Fundraising at MapAction, says: “Stephen’s world record attempt will raise much-needed funds for MapAction, enabling us to respond to more emergencies and help to save lives.

His idea of racing between Buckinghamshire’s mayors illustrates just how motivated Stephen is. We really can’t thank him enough for his support and look forward to plotting his progress when he sets off on this race of a lifetime next February.”

To sponsor Stephen, please visit www.justgiving.com/globalcyclerace-mapaction.