Permaculture Manchester . . . lets put some green on the urban scene

We are planning a Halloween forest gardening weekend at Middlewood . It would be great to see you there .. its gonna be real fun:
 

* forest gardening
* yurts
* camp fire
* pumpkin soup
* thick wooly socks
* misty mornings
* hot toddies

* kids cinema

* drumming for sure
* scary story telling !!

* halloween ritual

* face painting and halloween costumes p'raps!

 Middlewood is a beautiful place .. and the forest garden is beautiful too!
 

The spirits of the forest garden want you to come along and mingle with them, and the natural energies of Middlewood, and express your beautiful souls at this festive period, through a weekend of gardening, creativity and community.

Cost: donations (just get yurself up ther and bring some food to share!)

For more info, or to tell me you wanna come, email Rob, or call 07974 658 745

* * *

Where Fluffy met Spikey, midst the murky woods, whence the moonlight never could, quite shine brightly,

And Willow-the-Wisp shifts .. danced slightly in the mists,

There happenstanced, a curiosity, a mystery to see, that enhanced the whole of history ..
 

Purly by chance, Mr Fluffy happend to glance,

At . . . ?

* * *

... and the glow worms glimmered in the swamps in the sedges,
 

And the weebles warbled, and wobbled in the hedges,
 

Where the frogs fronged among fallen logs,
 

Hidden from hedge hogs, along the woodland edges,
 

And the rooks  looked down upon, and frowned upon, the critters on the ground from,
 

Their nooks and their crooks, on the high rocky ledges.
 

And the crane flies hovered by, and wondered why, they all bothered at all to try, not to die ...

* * *

Stuff to bring: torches, wellies, waterproofs (top and bottom), warm socks, wooly hats and scalfs, gardening gloves, herbs for the garden .. more herbs for the gaden, favourite DVD for the kids yurt, pumpkins, candles, food to share (cooked or ingredients), chocolate biscuits, big cushions for yurts.

* * *

Accommodation: If you want some prevacy then the best bet is to bring your own tent - there is plenty of space. There will also be some communal yurt or two where you can bed down. Plus those who don't like sleeping under canvas can sleep in indoors in the classroom: bring a role mat and bedding as these are not provided. Folk wanting to make an early start on Saturday morning are welcome to arrive Friday night.

* * *

Forest gardening activities: this is a community event, and the emphasis will be on fun, education and creativity, rather than sweat and toil. Work activities in the day time are likely to include hedge laying, tree thining, pruning and taking cuttings, mulching, planting and seeding, harvesting apples (perhaps), path building, compost toilet repair and maintainance, making styles and gates, carving and totem pole, making a mosaic, pond lining and landscaping, designing and creating kids play area, herb spiral restoration, weeding and scything.   

* * *

For those not familiar with the principles of forest gardening, there will be an opportunity to run through some theory, plus there will be plenty of practical stuff to get stuck into. I have just purchased a copy of Martin Crawford's A Year In the Forest Garden DVD (50 mins) which he has made at the Agroforestry Research Trust, so we can give that a viewing as well. 

* * *

Middlewood is a beautiful 220 acre permaculture valley farm about 10 miles east of Lancaster. The river Roeburn runs through the centre of the valley and there are loads of beautiful walks in the area if you want to escape for a while. Also their are loads of eco attractions that you can go and see. Take a look at Middlewood's web site for more info.

Getting to Middlewood

Middlewood is in Roeburndale West, about 2 miles south of the village of Wray. Go up M6 and turn east at J34 (Lancaster North). Follow A683 for several windey miles, and look out for the sign to Wray, up the B6480 to your right (sign is easily overlooked - if you get to Hornby you have gone too far). When you get to Wray, turn right off B6480 onto Main Street, and stop of for a quick pint. Then follow the sign to Roeburndale West, and take the lane south out of the village on the west side of the River Roeburn, and up the dale. A mile or so up the hill you will come to a t-junction, turn left and carry on a little further. You will see a sign on your left to Middlewood Trust, just after the cattle grid (if it is dark you might find the sign a little difficult to spot).

Don't forget to shut the gate behind you. Follow the lane down, and round a sharp left, to the car parking space next to the wind turbine - the lane has some large pot holes, so watch out for your exhaust pipes etc. After parking up you will see another gate leading into the farmyard. There is a portacabin on your right, and behind this is a lawn space where we will be camping. The forest garden where we will be working during the daytime is just beyond the camping space.

The moon will be almost full, is rising early, and is in the southern hemisphere. Let it light your path, and let the Samhain spirits show you the way from Wray.

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