Secure future for Cherry Tree Nursery
Press release from Bournemouth Council regarding Cherry Tree Nursery.  
Friday 29 January 2010

SWOP named Dorset Charity of the Year
The Sheltered Work Opportunities Project was voted 'Dorset Charity of the Year' at the Dorset Business Awards annual dinner held in Poole on Friday 11th December 2009. Chairman of SWOP trustees Martin Stewart welcomed this honour on behalf of everyone involved with the charity.

New minibus acquired
Our old minibus was purchased in 1994-5 and had become very unreliable, so following a request from our sister project at Chestnut Nursery, we started a fundraising campaign to replace it. Thanks to the wonderful kindness of many of our supporters, after just over 2 months we were able to purchase a second-hand Ford Transit replacement from U-Drive. We would like to thank all who have contributed to our minibus appeal, and look forward to having a more reliable vehicle for trips, outings and educational visits.  A special event to thank everyone was arranged, and photos taken of the donors with the volunteers in the new vehicle, which were featured in the local press.

Winter activities for volunteers
Volunteers have been on a number of outings in the new minibus, including visits to Salisbury market, Montacute School, to meet the reindeer at Stewarts, and to Chestnut Nursery. They have had a pudding day, a hot soup lunch, and a quiz here with Chestnut Nursery volunteers. They have enjoyed a series of talks, films and presentations including ‘how to make a hazel chair’, ‘’dinosaurs’, and .a farm for the future’. The Senior Lecturer in Psychology from Bournemouth University has given a very interesting presentation on the research work to be conducted here over the next three years. Volunteers also were able to participate fully in the shopping and wrapping for the annual Christmas party.

One World Week
We were asked to host this annual event for the first time at the end of October 2009, in recognition of our volunteers’ contribution to water projects in Latin America. Displays were set up in the shop, the barn and the function room,, and a fascinating series of films and presentations took place each afternoon.

Stour Valley Festival
This country event takes place next to the nursery, which we open for the entire weekend. This year, in addition to having a stall at the festival,  we also held a very successful children’s art and planting event, which we hope will become a regular event. The local beekeepers used our barn for their honey show.

First Bob Anderson Camping Trip
We were all deeply saddened by the death in June of long-time volunteer Bob. As not everyone could attend his funeral, we held a gathering in his memory, following which we discussed how best to remember him. It was unanimously agreed to hold an annual camping trip in his memory, and to put all the donations made by his friends towards this. The first trip took place at the end of July, in the Purbecks, when volunteers visited Swanage, and cooked sausages over an open fire.

Caravan holiday to Weymouth
This annual event is extremely popular, giving volunteers an opportunity to get away for a few days together. Highlights for the 2009 holiday included crabbing, and walking all the way to Portland!

Very successful Open Days held
Our 3 annual Open Days in July were a great success, many thanks to all who visited. We had a magnificent turnout on the Guests Day when our marvellous catering team excelled themselves. It is always a pleasure to welcome back many of our friends and supporters. Friends and Family Day is a very special day, giving volunteers the opportunity to show their friends, families and carers what they have been doing. The Plant Sale, despite the spitting rain, was our most successful ever July sale, with its usual happy atmosphere and the extra attraction of Bolivian dancers.

Courses
We have started a Numeracy Course again this year, due to popular demand. There has been a very interesting course on herbs, including a session making teas and lip balms and a visit to a local herb garden. Diana Guy is now running a course on Sustainable Gardening for our volunteers, which will also be available to the general public in the spring.

Joint barbecue with Chestnut Nursery
Every year we invite volunteers and staff from our sister project at Chestnut Nursery to join us for our summer barbecue in August.  We were also joined by our friends from both  the Parks Department and from the New Leaf Allotment Project. We all had a very enjoyable day. Cherry Tree volunteers visited Chestnut for tea and cake, and Chestnut came here for the annual nurseries’ quiz, which is held every winter.

Sustainable Building Consultant to help us
We are delighted that Rob Buckley, from the Dorset Centre for Rural Skills, has joined us to help plan new buildings to replace our leaking and decaying old portacabins. Everyone is very excited at the prospect of planning sustainable, low energy, living buildings for Cherry Tree’s next twenty years (see future plans).