Welcome to the SRT blog No. 62
23rd July 2021 – Welcome to our blog post No. 62
What a sweltering, hot week it’s been.
On Wednesday we were delighted to be able to celebrate the presentation of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service by the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, with Sunnyside volunteers, staff, trainees, trustees and patrons.
The equivalent of an MBE for charities and one we are so proud to receive. Special pin badges were presented and it was so good to be able to meet in person in the lovely tranquility space at Hemel Food Garden.
So it’s a massive thank you to all our volunteers who work with us and our 150 trainees at our 3 sites. The Queen’s Award represents a tremendous achievement for our charity and we are all immensely proud to receive it – the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Joe kindly took lots of photos for us to mark the occasion – here are a few…
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This was the week for BBQs and Northchurch devised their own game – ladder Olympics.
Different points on different holes throw the ball to hit the most points. Everyone loved it and Graham won the final round VS everyone with a total of 235 points
James grooming the goats. A regular task and good for all.
The sheep have found the shade.
Gillian adding fresh hay for the chickens.
Graham doing a fantastic job strimming and getting the front of site looking good.
More planting around the pond – donated irises. They love the sun and need to have their rhizomes exposed to be baked. They should flourish here.
Finding the shade after a hard days work mowing.
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A team from the Activity Centre, Lewis, Becca and Noreen helping with tending the flower bed and planters in Bovingdon. Bright and beautiful.
Annette was picking sweet peas for the market stall – sold out both weeks now. They look fabulous and have such a gorgeous smell.
This week’s market with fresh produce and plants.
Look how far the re-developed wood shed has come – very smart now.
The Coombe Gardens contract is a regular contract tended to by Sunnyside
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This week of sun has allowed Olivias stretching class to take place in the tranquility space – what a great start to the day!
Tidying up and making the site look amazing for the Queens Award celebration. George is busy. We were able to use The Box Moor Trust field opposite Hemel Food Garden as an overflow car park for all our guests who joined on Wednesday. Thank you Box Moor.
It was Kealeys birthday this week and the team gathered to sing her Happy Birthday and present her with flowers and a special Sunnyside card. Here’s Calum with the beautifully arranged bunch of homegrown flowers.
There was the second opening of the bakery this week, for the supporters of the build. Team yellow were busy decorating the cupcakes in the new space, ready to serve with the refreshments in the tranquility space – with gazebos set up to provide more, much needed shade.
In scorching weather the ribbon was cut, a tour of the facilities taken and chats with trainees at work. We even had the inaugural chefs hat signed by all for framing. Thanks goes to HSBC, Modern Exteriors, Asda, Osborne Property Supplies, Neil Johnson and Prudential, Colour Supplies Ltd., The Box Moor Trust, Julie Waitrose & Stroma for all their help in making this project a reality.
The echinacea plants are now flowering in the poly tunnel and have many uses – tea infusions and cake decorating included.
Off site, at Breakspeare school a team carried out a full haircut on the willow igloo den – much needed and looking rather punk like before the final couple of cuts.
The outside contract at Berkhamsted School saw the team working, pollarding the trees along the pathway so they put their energy into the upper canopy. What a great job done.
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I am on annual leave next week so the blog will be out again in August.