A Long Overdue Update!

It’s been over two years since the last blog post and things have moved on a bit! This blog will give you the latest news and update about what happened.

Developments

We have an official website!
You can view that here ss-retreats-fb.crd.co

We now have an official “Friends Of” associated group. 

This group is to show support for the project and help us to legitimise our claim for the land, keep everything a little more formal incase it is required. Anyone can join this group and show support for the idea. We need a name, contact number &/or email and an address. 

The group will have it’s own bank account so funds are kept separate from my personal and business expenses and they can be kept track of.

We are also launching a private membership for people to join to use the space for retreats.

This group will fund the ongoing development and maintenance of the project and will be trusted to use the space appropriately. We encourage single and couples stays only for people looking for quiet relation amongst nature. 

There has been a crowdfunding campaign launched. 

This to try and gain some support and funds to get things moving a little faster and have the caravan sited properly, paths put in and sections established in the first quarter so we can begin welcoming guests. 

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Past Progress Update

Things were a bit slow moving and stressful in 2022-23. 
I had some personal and professional losses to manage as well as health complications which have slowed me down. We also had a string of thefts while the caravan was left unsupervised which cost me a lot of money in losses what was stolen, repairs and also trust for the project.

I almost decided to stop the project!
But this spring had a new vigour for the project and I have been inspired when I seen how many of the plants survived the year. A good amount of progress has been made to get back on track with it all.

The caravan can still not be locked (this is due to it’s position and not being sited properly yet) but I am no longer keeping anything of value in there until we can get it properly secure, which is a current priority. 

The community compost area has been misused… mainly through overuse! 
It’s great the compost area has been well used but it has been a bit much. People have been leaving more than I can handle to process so I have updated signage and hope that will help clarify what we can take and the levels we can process on the site.

I have also added a rubbish bin in the area to stop the endless poo bags and the bits of rubbish that seem to end up in the compost bins so fingers crossed that also solves those problems.

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Current Progress

I am currently working on the land myself and with one or two others from the friends of group.

This is because I have still been managing my health and having informal sessions and unplanned progress suits me better at the moment. 

I am generally there a couple afternoons weekly chipping away at the sectioning and digging for caravan siting. I will be starting some building work soon to create storage around the caravan, seating areas and covered planting areas.

If anyone does want to get invovled send a message or if you see me just ask. 

We can take donations of materials. 

If you have any materials that we can use we are glad to take donations of the following:

• Useable tiber, pallets or posts,
• Bricks, rocks, paving slabs,
• Sand or gravel, 
• Perrennial plants, herbs, shrubs or trees. 

They can be left at the gate and will be put to use when we need them.