Page 14 • The HERALD • 12th September 2024 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v GOLD WANTED BEST PRICES PAID We want to buy your unwanted quality jewellery Gold Jewellery, Antique & Modern, Diamond Rings & Gem Sets. Including Good Quality Watches, Rolex, Omega, Longines etc. CASH in your old, broken or unwanted jewellery – NOW!!! It could be worth more than you think! Contact Amberley Jewellers: sales@amberleyjewellers.co.uk or pop into the shop: 10-11 The Marsh, Hythe, SO45 6AN amberleyjewellers.co.uk MR SWEEP THE CHIMNEY SWEEP keep it clean - keep it safer Open fires, wood burners, stoves etc. Both private and commercial properties Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps Tel: 07971 280906 www.mrsweeplymington.com email: mrsweeplymington@gmail.com 38 Bath Road, Lymington SO41 3SB FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8184 5632 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST The next Herald is out on 3rd October How I transformed an area of wasteland into something that will benefit my local community and has widened my circle of friends. Without spending a lot of money or doing much work. Looking back on it now it was surprisingly easy. Although there was a lot of luck involved. I was 69 this year and live alone. About two years ago I had a huge overgrown garden which with only the state pension to nance the work and one pair of hands looked an impossible job as the years passed. My energy levels are slowly diminishing, making the garden an ever more, daunting prospect. Then what looked like the opportunity to make some money came up in the form of a it to provide fresh fruit and vegetables for whoever needed it came from but it’s an incredibly good idea. Lucie found volunteers, organised the donation of compost bins, a garden table and wood chips and made a successful application for a grant to grow fruit trees. e most active of the volunteers is Gina Newnham and a er one of her sessions I asked what she liked about working on my garden, and she replied: “I enjoy gardening and the process of planting, if you get the planting and layout right, you can turn a piece of land into a beautiful garden. When Lucie asked me to help her, I wasn’t worried even after seeing the garden with brambles. I was like ‘let’s get on’. And seeing it changed has been exciting. I now have lovely friendships with you and Lucie. Also knowing what we grow will be used in the community is amazing.” Gardening is the most popular hobby in the UK. e only money I remember sending on the project (probably less than £30) 1. Entrance Fee for the competition 2. Short taxi ride to the competition. My problem isn’t unique. Other people will have problems with their gardens which could be solved using the answer I found or something like it. been creating artwork. My business idea was marketing my artwork and stories, if I’d won I was going to put the prize money towards sorting out the garden. I didn’t win, but entering was the key to transforming my garden and will help a lot of people. ere were three entriesThe Healthy Haven Garden (Christine Bennett), e Waterside Food Project (Lucie Mann) and yours truly. LOCAL GARDEN PROJECT by local resident Ivor Lucie Mann’s entry was The Waterside Food Project which gives just in date food from Supermarkets that would have otherwise been wasted to people in the community who would have gone hungry. e Healthy Haven Garden is a formal garden in the grounds of a local GP surgery which patients can enjoy while waiting for their appointments. It struck me at the time that my project was the least well organised and the least public spirited. But luckily for me who came second and third was never announced. e winner was Lucie Mann’s project, but a er the results were announced she o ered to organise help for me with my gardening. I don’t know where the idea of using Ivor’s garden before Ivor’s garden after competition for local businesses, organised by the Hythe and Dibden Parish Council it was called, Hythe Soup Dragons. Each contestant had to give a pitch to a live audience with the winner receiving £5 from each member of the audience’s entrance fee. Over lockdown I wrote a series of short stories called irty Mostly Quirky Tales and for many years have
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