Eastleigh Community Garden Christmas Event
On Saturday 10 December we held our Community Garden Christmas Event as we officially handed the garden over to our fantastic group of volunteers who will continue to maintain and enjoy this urban green space in the town centre.
We invited the wider community along on Saturday to show the garden off, meet Father Christmas and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Even in December the garden looked beautiful with frost covered cobwebs and plants sparkling in the winter sun.
We invited people to enter a festive pallet wood competition, using old pallets to create unique Christmas decorations to display around the garden. As well as the wooden decorations, the garden team made fun alternative features, there were ice decorations, a Christmas wreath from an upcycled scooter tyre, snowflakes made from scrap paper and baubles made from ballcocks from the former Samson’s Gym building.
The winning entry for the pallet decorations, chosen by The Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Adam Manning, was Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council. He said: “I loved the bright colours and cheeriness of this decoration, it was much needed on a very, very cold day.”
The festivities continued with the Salvation Army singing carols singing, holding a bring-and-buy sale, and providing mince pies and refreshments. The Lions Club ran Christmassy games including an elf trial, a tombola and guess the name of the teddy.
We raised an incredible £1,151 for the local children, all of which went to providing presents to 59 vulnerable children, as well as a small grocery voucher for the families.
Chair of the Community Garden, Councillor Tina Campbell along with Dave Bowring and Wayne Irish from Eastleigh Lions Club delivered the presents bought with the proceeds from the event to local schools for distribution to families struggling financially this Christmas. Well done to everyone that took part in making the Community Garden event such a fun filled day. We hope more members of the community come along and visit the garden in the spring and continue to support the hard work and effort that goes into this lovely green space in the centre of town.
Palletwood Christmas competition entries
The Snowman was an entry from Eastleigh Men’s Shed and was very appropriate on what must have been the coldest day of the year so far.
This beautifully painted entry from local Eastleigh charity, Fledge, looks even more beautiful at night as the stable lights up with fairy lights. It reflects the brilliant work that this charity does to support those who are homeless.
This brilliant entry came from Chandler’s Ford based charity, Thrive. The Mayor loved the ornaments which were hand-made as well as the beautiful wooden star on the top.
This small but perfectly formed Christmas tree came from Eastleigh Community Garden’s very own Lorraine. She has used poppy heads saved from her garden and ivy, and fir cones gathered from around Eastleigh to decorate her beautiful entry.
The Mayor loved the use of the old bed springs to support the Christmas baubles in this entry from Mark from Eastleigh Lions Club.
Another Christmas decoration came from Cllr Tina Campbell who used dried flower & seed heads of hydrangea, honesty & teasels to decorate her tree. It was lit up with hanging lanterns made from old chutney jars and tea lights. But don’t worry the flames were artificial.
The people’s choice award went to the House of Hordes, a festive bug hotel that will remain a permanent fixture at the garden. This was created by Pete from the Labour Party.