Blog

LOOKING BACK 2018

Another year at the garden where we went from a very wet winter to a boiling hot summer. While we can never predict the weather, onething that is constant is the number of visitors that come and see what we get up too. This year one very welcome development was that more and more potential funders have been coming up – Sussex Community Foundation, Fonthill Foundation, Ernest Kleinwort, Big Lottery, Homity Trust and Peoples Postcode Lotteryalong with companies who are… Read More »LOOKING BACK 2018

OPEN DAY 2018

Any trustee worth their runner beans should always ask the question ‘why are we doing this?’ And so Forest Garden secretary and regular volunteer Duncan quite rightly asked – what is it we want from our annual open day?   It’s not to make money, if it wasn’t for the generous grant from Homity Trust it would cost us to put on the event but we do hope new visitors will see the value in our work and support us… Read More »OPEN DAY 2018

MATTHEW CHEESMAN

Matthew Cheesman 1968-2018  We are sorry to announce the passing of Matthew Cheesman.  Matthew had been coming to the garden every Friday for seven years. With his big smile and cheerful disposition, Matthew was a joy to have around. He was a very good gardener and he loved to cook – as was also partial to the odd biscuit that we have with our endless cups of tea, Rushing excitedly up the hill asking what jobs we had to do… Read More »MATTHEW CHEESMAN
larbi collecting wood

LOOKING BACK 2017

Everyone who has visited the garden this year has commented on how great it is looking, and that’s thanks to all our volunteers. Infact, we are often so busy with volunteers on our workdays that its hard to find enough jobs for everyone to do! It no doubt helps that Carly and Jo cook up such fantastic food at lunchtimes so many of our guests leave with a full belly and a great impression. From councillors and MPs to chief… Read More »LOOKING BACK 2017
shampoo

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF THE FOREST GARDEN

Our work doesn’t stop at the allotment gates but carries on every day of the week across Moulsecoomb and beyond.
Last week we helped forage for ingredients to make home made shampoo at Moulsecoomb Primary and the Bevy community pub for an event run by House of Cultural Curiosity as part of the British Science Festival.
shampoo
prizes
We entered fruit and veg, cakes and jams at the Bevy garden show and cooked a Harvest Feast at Moulsecoomb Primary while Stephan from Brighton Permaculture Trust got children to squash the apples and pears grown and harvested by the children at the school to turn into juice.
picking apples
apples
apple press

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open day pizza

OPEN DAY 2017

The sun shone, the bees buzzed, the pizzas flew out of the oven and the cakes into people’s grateful mouths! What a fantastic open day with nearly 200 people visiting; old friends and new from all walks of life including Kayla Ente from Bhesco, Rich Haworth from The Living Coast and blogger Ian Chisnall from Ashdown Audio Visual Pupils from Patcham House, Varndean and Brighton Aldridge Community Academy showed off the skills they’ve learnt. One lad who’s been excluded from… Read More »OPEN DAY 2017
moulsecoomb primary school

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY

As a governor at Moulsecoomb Primary School for over a decade I’ve seen the chipping away of school budgets. It’s got to the point where it is national news; with all headteachers complaining that they haven’t got enough money to deliver the education that all our children deserve. At our school we have lost nearly£200,000 in the last four years – with another £210,000 to follow. I was invited to help out atMoulsecoomb Primary when former head, Mr Davies, was… Read More »EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY

KEEPING FIT ON MAYORAL DUTIES

It’s hard to keep up with Mayor of Brighton and Hove Pete West as he flies past on his tandem, off to yet another event, hoping not to catch the mayoral chains in his bike chains.   It put a few peoples noses out when he decided to break with protocol and support 27 different charities, but for small groups like ours to be chosen was a welcome shot in the arm needed in this climate of never ending cut… Read More »KEEPING FIT ON MAYORAL DUTIES

LOOKING BACK 2016

Eco-cabin finally complete, first pupil to get a qualification in Creative Craft, being picked as one of the Mayors charities – its been another great year for Moulsecoomb Forest Garden.   However, the background is that life is becoming increasingly difficult for small charities.   I recently attended a meeting held by Sussex Community Foundation with Vanessa, one of our trustees. Sussex Community Foundation, who have been long-term supporters of our work, were launching their new report ‘Sussex Uncovered‘. In… Read More »LOOKING BACK 2016