Two grants, in 2021 and 2023, totalling £13,560
Using their grants from TOE, Banbury CAG have built nine new hexagonal raised beds in the Bridge Street Community Food Forest.
Eight of the new beds have been planted with pollinator-friendly shrubs and one is a wildlife pond. As well as acting as a focus for knowledge and inspiration to encourage others to make their own wildlife havens in gardens, allotments, planters and window boxes across the town, the garden provides a wildlife friendly oasis in the middle of town, making a real difference to the local natural environment.
Although the group originally planned to make the raised beds from scaffold planks, TOE recommended they use boards made from recycled plastic for their durability and greater longevity, and increased the grant award accordingly.
The garden is located right in the heart of Banbury, very close to the train station, right next to two busy bridges, and a hectic junction. The design of the community garden is modular so that new raised beds can be constructed as and when funds become available.
Winter update
Thank you to Banbury CAG for sending us an update on their community project. They are working on their wildlife-friendly pond in harsh conditions!
We love hearing from our grant-holders who are devoted to Oxfordshire’s environment. Here’s what Banbury CAG has said about their work in December, 2022:
Thank you so much to the 21 brave community volunteers who helped us with our wildlife-friendly pond on Sunday, despite the snow and icy conditions.
We will invite you to add more native plants to the pond later in the spring. This was just the start!
This project has been possible thanks to a Trust For Oxfordshire’s Environment grant with funding from Grundon Waste Management Ltd through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Thank you also to Wild Banbury for their advice and practical support.