Alexandra Park Greenhouse Fully Restored After 10 Years
Volunteers have celebrated 10 years of progress at a Hastings community hub with a surprise presentation to its chairman.
Linda Pearson receives a presentation album from Linda Foy
Chairman Linda Pearson, the main driving force behind the restoration of Alexandra Park Greenhouse, was given an album of photos charting the hard work of volunteers and the results of generous public donations over the last decade. The album was compiled by greenhouse photographer Colin Foy and presented to her at the Heritage Open Day (HOD) held on 8 September at the greenhouse, a national community-led festival of England’s history and culture.
Visitors to the 1930’s teak and cast-iron greenhouse bought indoor and outdoor plants, apples, notebooks, greetings cards and other items. The HOD event, together with the usual open day on the Saturday, raised £800 for greenhouse funds. About 130 people visited the greenhouse over the weekend.
Linda said that Alexandra Park Greenhouse trustees and volunteers were pleased to welcome the community to view the fully restored greenhouse. “We hope it will now become a thriving horticultural hub, enabling us all to grow together. I think the HOD success was an acknowledgement of all the work the volunteers and the community have contributed to the restoration.”
Professional photographer Dave Bruce has been commissioned by East Sussex County Council to take pictures of volunteer teams and their work in the area. His photos of the restored greenhouse and its volunteers will be added to a dossier to illustrate to funders the vital work done by local projects and charities.
But work on the restored greenhouse has not ended. There are plans to put in a grey water filter system so that its wastewater can be treated at source. Volunteers are also planning to have a double sink and electric water heater installed in the propagation area for handwashing hygiene and pot washing.
More details about the greenhouse project from our-greenhouse.org
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