The Welcome Garden was designed to be used by the church, school and community.
It was intended that we have an official opening in 2020 but, unfortunatelty, due to the Covid pandemic this wasn’t able to happen. But at least, being completed, it was able to be used for small groups to meet when they could outside, and helped with the safe spacing of school children entering the school on a morning, and for parents waiting to collect/drop-off.
In 2022 we were able to have a number of events in the Garden and it has been used by school classes, and community members who have come to play with children or sit and eat lunch on the benches.
There is a small team of volunteers who maintain the garden and the Community Payback Team kindly mow the grass with their petrol mower when they come to work on the graveyard.
With some of our Harvest donations in October 2023 we twinned the Welcome Garden with one in Migori, Kenya.
This was through an organisation called ‘Ripple Effect’ https://rippleeffect.org/
Bike Rack
A bike rack was installed in the garden in March 2023, at the side of the main church door. It will accomodate six bikes and is intended for use by church and school.
It was a joint garden and eco project and there is more information on the Eco Church page.
Welcome Garden Timeline
To start with …
October 22nd 2015 – First Meeting
The Rev Steve Lees, Anita Watson, Richard Mullen and Margaret Binns
Developed a basic vision
Started work on Faculty
Comprehensive research into grant bodies.
Formally underway …
Sept 7th 2017 – PCC endorsement
Faculty continues to be developed
Ian Byfield and Paul Gunningham join
Building on research, grant bids developed
Start talking to contractors
In all we contact more than 25 different contractors.
Consultation begins …
The Faculty is agreed!
Very helpful Diocesan Advisory Group
Very supporting Archdeacon
Loads of involvement form church
Faculty Approved August 2018
Grant money begins to arrive …
Jan 28th 2019 Bank account opened
PCC present £13,000 from reserves
Donations start coming in
Fund raising begins
First event raises £1200
Nearly £40,000 in grants (so far)
Around £15,000 in donations and fundraising (so far)
Planning well underway work begins
The Future …
It’s good to talk (!)
The development of All Saints’ Welcome Garden was complicated and wide ranging. Here is a summary just some of the various activities involved in bringing the project to its present state.
All Saints’ PCC discussion and resolutions
Consultation with the Diocesan Advisory Committee
Consultation with Diocesan Archaeologist
Dialogue with local historical society
Dialogue with neighbouring All Saints’ School
Consultation with Diocesan Architect
Consultation with Digitisation companies
Appointment of and consultation with Landscape Architect
Formal Congregational Consultation
Formal Community Consultation
Consultation with Diocesan Registrar re legal matters
Consultation with Calderdale Council Planning Office
Consultation with Council Countryside Officer
Reference to Ecclesiastical Insurance
Consultation and subsequent approval of Victorian Society
Applications to several funding bodies and follow-ups
Researching contractors, assessing bids, appointments and oversight
Discussion with local uniformed organisation leaders
Discussion with local visual arts groups
Discussion with home schooling support group
Discussion with nearby hospital staff wellbeing group
Discussion with local Age UK
Discussion with local Allotments Society
Discussion with local toddler and childminding groups
Development of groups for maintenance, management and event planning.