Flower Pod Newark is sited on approximately two acres of land in Hawtonville near Newark. We took over the management of this beautiful community garden in 2020. The garden includes two ponds, polytunnels, a small orchard, vegetable and flower beds, fruit bushes and other interesting features. The site offers an accessible space where people with learning disabilities can take part in gardening-related learning and social activities, make new friends, enjoy outdoor activity and learn new skills as well as have opportunity for supported volunteering and mentoring.
Samantha Dakin
Interim Flower Pod Newark Centre Manager
Hello my name is Samantha. I’ve recently been appointed Interim Centre Manager at Flower Pod, Newark. I’ve been working as an Inspire Tutor for Reach since 2016, delivering many diverse courses for our amazing clients. During the Covid-19 pandemic I taught outdoors at both of Reach’s Flower Pod sites. I’m passionate about nature, conservation, and horticulture.
I love the mindfulness and sense of well-being, from working outside alongside clients, the amazing team of volunteers and staff we have. When people walk through the Flower Pod gates, you can physically see their shoulders relax, they breathe deeply and smile. It is a safe, welcoming and happy environment for all.
Flower Pod Newark - Progress in Pictures
Here are just a few examples of what's been happening at Flower Pod Newark so far....
Thanks to the generosity of some incredible businesses and individuals we are now very proud owners of a new building, providing much needed shelter, warmth, electricity and eventually running water.
Special thanks to Premier Modular for the provision of building for free and co ordination of project.
We have harvested our first lot of vegetables and are preparing the ground for this years crops
We found time to make our very own resident Scarecrows
Starting to build the dead hedge barrier on the veg bed - using up dried branches from around the site
Naturalisation of a neglected pond with clients enjoying the bio-diversity improvements already - including the arrival of courting frogs, frogspawn and even tadpoles!
Clients and staff have worked hard clearing lots of rubbish from the site
Digging over veg plots and raking the flower borders. Soon it’ll be time to start planting!
Feeding the birds with home-made fruit and cheese kebabs, as well as fat peckers
Clearing, sorting and re arranging the site to create more useable space
Lots of weeding required before raking and preparing the soil
