Eleanor's SCVS Blog

2006-02-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

The 'Living Art Space' is really coming along now. We now have a willow arch and bird table, an assemblage sculpture, mosaics and yesterday we added some purple and green slate chippings as a ground covering. This is really effective and helps bring all the different parts of the garden together. I'll try post some pictures for you to see soon, and we will be organising a little garden party at some point so you can come and see it for yourself. I'll keep you posted.

The funders are also organising an event at the Waterfront museum on the evening of the 1st march (st davids day) called 'The heART of the community'. There will be performances and workshops, and they will be showing a short video of our Green Gym project. You can also find out about some of the other projects funded by the CIF community Arts fund, and Boys from The Hill will be playing. I hope to see some of you there.

'Living Art Space'

2006-01-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

This is the exiting new project I am doing with the green gym. As some of you know I am doing a Community Arts course at Gorseinon College, and it was through this I found out about CIF Community Arts small grant fund. I asked Marcia if we could apply to do something for the green gym and she said 'yes', so in a limited amount of time we made plans and filled out a funding application. A couple of weeks later we recieved a letter saying we had been succussful and recieved the full amount we asked for.
The project is based at Gorseinon allotments where we have mondays green gym. The plot we are using is 20ft squared which will be transformed into an organic fruit and sculpture garden entitled 'Living Art Space'. Before christmas involved the planning and preparation including a couple of ideas sessions with the group. Throughout January and Febuary are the actual workshops. We had the first one last monday when we put the path in place. We've got lots more lined up including willow weaving and metal sculpture. I'll keep you up dated on further developments.

new placement

2006-01-11T07:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I started my new placement at the city and county parks department in the guild hall, which is going well so far. The first day was just getting to know people and my way around (its huge). Today started with a team meeting in which we talked about plans for easter events. I am going to be involved in a sculpture workshop for the junior park rangers which will actually link in with the 'Living Art Space' project I'm doing with the green gym (will explain this in another blog). After the meeting I joined the promenade and beach development workers for a walk down to the marina and back. This was in preparation for a school trip so we made notes of points of interest to tell them about. So that has been my day so far, and now I've got a bit of free time giving me a chance to finally catch up on blogging. Sorry its been so long, I promise to blog again soon.

more about green gym activities

2005-11-01T04:24:00.000-08:00

On fridays we go to Aberdullias falls with the Green Gym where we have been doing restoration work on the old stone buildings for the National Trust. Our job at the moment is preparing the walls for pointing. This involves carefully picking away all the loose crumbling stuff, making sure we don't accidentally Knock down the 15th cetuary walls.

Last Friday the National Trust took us and our volunteers to Lunch at the Rock and Fountain in Aberdullias to say Thank-you for the work we have been doing (just one of the perks to my job). It was a very nice meal, and all the volunteers enjoyed.

what i've been doing

2005-10-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

My placement is with BTCV, and within BTCV I have been assigned to the Green Gym which is going really well. I work alongside Marcia Coleman who is the Swansea Green Gym coordinator. The Green Gym is an alternative to a regular indoor gym, where volunteers work on conservation activities while improving their health and wellbeing. Our volunteers come from a variety of different backgrounds, some have phsyical or mental health problems or learning difficulties. Most Green Gym sessions last for two hours and people can work at their own pace.

In Gorseinon and at the community farm we have allotment plots where we have been growing our own vegetables. At the end of each session we share out the vegetables which promotes healthy eating aswell. Its made me inventive with cooking aswell, returning home with a celleriac, corgette and runner beans (I think my boyfriend would rather order a pizza but i'm converting him slowly).

hi

2005-10-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hi this is Eleanor, today I am in weblog training. I have just set up my weblog page, and now I am learning how to use it.