ALDINGBOURNE COUNTRY CENTRE
The Aldingbourne Country Centre is based near Fontwell, Chichester in West Sussex. The Centre provides work related training in several vocational areas:-
- community links
- horticulture
- organic vegetable production
- antique furniture restoration
- wood recycling
- wood products
- catering
- Christians Car Washing
Community Links
Aldingbourne Trust has a strong belief that individuals have a place in the wider community. Opportunities to express and share skills. To help and join in with others either in a voluntary or paid capacity and celebrate achievements.
The 'Community Link' team has started some interesting projects. These are a sample of some of our activities.
Sensory garden at 'Rotherlea', Petworth
This is a residential home for older persons. This is a tiered and ongoing voluntary social outreach project.
We are now helping staff and residents of Rotherlea to build a sensory garden.
The sensory garden will be an area which will contain raised beds and walking areas which will contain flowers, shapes, colours and smells which will stimulate the senses.
Community Allotment in Chichester
'Action in Rural Sussex' through its 'Isolation Action Group' has set up a community allotment in Chichester, West Sussex. This is for the benefit of isolated elderly persons living in Chichester.
We at the Trust have joined in this project to fulfill a community inclusion objective.
With a keen knowledge of all things horticultural, the team from Aldingbourne Country Centre along with Jane and Pip from the Isolation Action Group have begun to prepare the raised beds for planting.
Pallant House Art Gallery, Chichester Outside In Project
The Aldngbourne Trust is keen to establish partnerships with business and community groups.
For a discussion and further information please contact Andrew Baker on communitylinks@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
The Horticulture group grows a wide range of spring bedding, patio and basket plants, herbaceous perennials, hardy shrubs and climbers. All are available for sale in our shop at the Country Centre. They can also provide a complete bedding, tub and hanging basket display for your business – the group have won prizes for their work.
Bedding & Patio plants Herbaceous and shrubs
For more information contact Richard on hort@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
organic produce is available, in season, from our shop.
For more information contact Jo Rea on 01243 542075 or email organics@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
Harvest time!
“Spring Time the only pretty ring time,
Birds sing, hey ding, a ding a ding”
(As you like it- W. Shakespeare)
At last! A collective sigh of relief that despite the recent warnings of a winter relapse, the Spring is here and it is as welcome as a Spring could ever be. The sun is shining, the sky is a thankful shade of blue and everything seems alive and pippin’. Leaves unfold, flowers raise their heads and trumpet their joy and we can finally banish our winter clothes to the attic and roll up our sleeves. For this new sunrise signals the start to a new growing adventure.
So with hoes and rakes and seed packets at the ready we can finally begin the process of creating new life and look forward, instead of back, to new crops being sown and harvested, to experimenting with new propagation techniques and to enjoy being outside once more.
With halving our raised bed number in the top field, we can already see the benefit of our intensive care on the remaining beds. They were given a good layer of compost after Christmas, which the frost cheerfully broke down for us. The beds have been raked and de-stoned and at present we have already sown or planted out the majority of our crops. On some of the crops like beans we have only sown half the bed so we can do another sowing a bit later on to stagger the harvest times.
Due to the extra long winter and everything being set back a few weeks, we are playing catch up and every spare inch of the poly tunnel and back glass house is taken up with seed trays in various growth stages. However, we have been guilty of not watering according to the temperature which has fluctuated in the poly tunnel and glasshouse, and has resulted in some of the trays being over watered. We have encountered a green algae growth on the compost surface. It is something we have not seen before and as it makes the compost look damp, the plant doesn’t get watered, when in fact underneath this crust, is a very dry plant struggling to breath. The key here is to give more than a passing look at the soil and feel for the moisture content. We have known tiny seedlings go to seed in the trays due to lack of water. It’s a sad sight indeed!
But I was very pleased to see our Avocado plants rise up from the ashes and having been tucked away somewhere and had a severe hair cut over Winter, they have made a reappearance and are showing good signs of re-growth. Our rhubarb has shot up and is already the star of the top field beds. We tried to force some this year, but I found the flavour didn’t quite match up to expectations. When forcing rhubarb it is best picked and eaten when the stems are short. Ours had grown to triffid proportions! A few of our rhubarb have formed quite stunning flower heads, which we pulled out. Speaking to fellow gardeners, this has been a common site this year and shouldn’t affect the rest of the plant. Other successes have included our watercress and mint cuttings and the rosemary cuttings, although have taken months to get started, are giving a reassuring resistance when gently pulled. Our onion seeds, however, were a complete failure and we shan’t be bothering with those next year!
The progress on our enchanted wild flower garden has been slow, and I’m willing the thousands of seeds that were sown a month ago, to make a speedy appearance! The purpose of this section, in our top field, is to encourage nature to enter and wellbeing to those who visit it. At the moment, I’m feeling anything but calm when I look at the bit of scrub land that glares at us, in all it’s baron glory! Patience is a virtue or so I’m told. Oh well, onwards and upwards, there’s always more beds to hoe! Happy Spring Time!
Current sowings
Top Field - potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, runner beans, dwarf and French climbing beans, rhubarb, asparagus, blackcurrants, raspberries, plums, green gages, beetroot and celeriac. Yet to be planted are squashes and leeks.
Poly Tunnel - Leaf beet, carrots, lettuce, broad beans, strawberries, fennel, garlic, spring cabbages, leeks, squashes, chicory, Chinese cabbage, basil, sage, mint, lettuce, watercress, chives, cucumber, celery, spinach, sweet corn, kale, peppers and tomatilloes.
We are also increasing our “Grow Your Own” section due to it’s success last year. You can find a wide range of seedlings in the front glasshouse. This includes: strawberry plants, rocket, kale, onion sets, peas and beans, salad leaves, leeks, tomato plants, potato plants, various herb and squash seedlings.
To enquire about “Pick Fresh to Order” phone the shop at ACC and they can tell you what it’s in season now! Your order can then be picked and ready for your collection.
For more information contact Jo on organics@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
Items of antique furniture can be restored in our workshops – we undertake repair, reviving and French polishing.
.....at work in the restoration workshop
The group has also completed repair and restoration projects in local churches – winning, for one project, a Daily Telegraph Traditional Craftsmanship award.
Recent examples of furniture we have restored
For more information contact Jim at furniture@aldingbournetrust.co.ukOur Wood Recycling group provides a commercial collection service, enabling us to sell on recycled timber through our shop.
We also take commissions for bespoke projects.
Our workshops all support our trainees to gain a better understanding about the world of work and the commercial environment. People are supported to take part in voluntary work, work experience and, where possible, move onto paid employment.
We have close links with local Colleges and courses are planned to complement the practical skills acquired at the Country Centre.
For more information contact John or Barry at wood@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
Wood Products
This new group will be making items from wood to sell in our gift shop at aldingbourne, such as bird boxes, keyrings, signs, painted chairs and pictures frames.
We would welcome any donations or contributions of craft materials such as buttons and beads, fabric and old clothes, ribbon, picture frames and mirros, card, coloured paper and anything else small and wooden etc. For more info contact Sophie on woodproducts@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
Our catering group provide snacks, meals and refreshments in the Cafe.
For more info contact Steve on cafe@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
We also have a conference room available for hire - we can provide refreshments and food to suit your requirements.
For more info contact Sue on suebaker@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
Christian’s Car Wash Company
Christian Roberts is a young man with a keen interest in cars. Christian has had responsibility for washing the Aldingbourne Trust’s minibuses and has studied car maintenance at Chichester College. With support from the Aldingbourne Trust and a start up grant from the Enham Trust, Christian has now taken the step of turning this interest into running his own business by offering a car washing service at the Aldingbourne Country Centre.
Christian takes a real pride in hand washing cars and offers the service on a Thursday and Friday at a cost of £5.00 per car. He is the first person supported by the Aldingbourne Trust to become self-employed, and is pictured here at the launch of his new venture.
Tel: 01243 542075 for further details.
Opening times:
The Country Centre is open to visitors form 10 am to 4pm each day, including weekends and Bank Holidays.
Coffee Shop patio Woodland Walk
You can find us on the A27 near Fontwell (last exit East bound before Fontwell roundabout). If you are approaching us westbound, we are the first exit to the right after the Fontwell roundabout. Free parking and accessible building and garden areas.
Woodland Walk - enjoy a stroll by the pond and through the woods.
Please call Simon Hutchins, Manager or Matthew Swanson, Deputy Manager on 01243 542075 for more information or email acc@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
Simon Hutchins Matthew Swanson
