This page is under review.
13 September 2023: In September we aim to start to organise regular gardening sessions: for volunteers who would like to help out on a weekly basis, and also sessions for those who aren't able to get to the garden regularly. If you are interested in either being a Volunteer or a Friend please email us on gardenatnightingale@gmail.com[ends].
For a recent plan of the garden see the design page.
Constituted group: Nightingale Gardeners
You do NOT need to be a member of the group to come and enjoy the garden, including at the gardening sessions.
In May 2018, we set up a new constituted group (Nightingale Gardeners) so we can better involve people in decision making, have our own bank account, insurance and fundraise.
We have a constitution, which is focussed on enabling community gardening. We want the group to be as happy and informal as the sessions. A revised constitution will be agreed in 2023.
Health and Safety statement/policy (new version 10 December 2022).
Equal opportunities policy/statement (new version 10 December 2022).
Environment policy statement (new version 10 December 2022).
Safeguarding policy/statement (new version 10 December 2022).
Meetings and papers
Our first formal meetings were about every 8 weeks, at 1pm on Sundays in the garden. Since 2019, we have held them less often.
Past meetings:
2018: 27 May 2018: our first meeting: agenda; notes. Notes on a meeting held on 16 July 2018 about the green-roofed veranda project. 22 July 2018: Agenda; draft notes. 16 September 2018: Agenda; Draft notes.18 November 2018: agenda; Notes.
2019: 10 March 2019. Agenda. Draft notes. AGM 12 May 2019. Agenda. Notes. 29 September 2019: agenda; Draft Notes.
2020: 8 March 2020: agenda; draft notes (with updates since the meeting). 10 May: should have been our AGM. Postponed to October. AGM 4 October 2020: Agenda (brief annual review and summary of Treasurer’s report) for AGM by e-mail and phone. More-detailed Treasurer’s report to April 2020. Linked to this: new plan for the garden (has the new raised beds, new polytunnel, new green-roofed veranda, where the outdoor kitchen will be and where we’d like a new sturdy bench). Draft new health and safety policy.
2021: 27 June 2021: agenda; Notes. AGM. Sunday 12 September 2021 (agenda; Notes).
2022: Sunday 13 March 2022 planning meeting, 2 to 3pm agenda; Notes. AGM 2022: Sunday 15 May 2022, 2 to 3 pm: agenda; Account summary. Draft notes. Sunday 18 September 2022 planning meeting: agenda; Draft notes.
Garden volunteer sessions - to 27 March 2023:
These were volunteer-led.
We don't meet when the weather is grim. So always check the weather forecast and the home page of this website before travelling far.
We meet only when we have a garden co-ordinator present, for safety and access to tools, so some sessions might be cancelled.
We are covered by insurance for only adults to volunteer but if we have suitable very safe tasks children are welcome as long as they are supervised very closely by a parent or guardian and can also work safely when other volunteers are working in the garden.
How we work
We work under supervision, and collaboratively, with Streets and Open Spaces.
Public liability insurance: In 2018–2019, we were insured via Zurich insurance. From 2019, we have been insured via McClarrons Ltd. 17 May 2023: we have stopped the insurance until a new team can take over.
Earning Tempo time credits: From 23 January 2021, we signed up as a group for online Tempo Time Credits. This is funded by the City Council so can be terminated by them or if we don’t have anyone to co-ordinate it.
One-off volunteering and corporate social responsibility: In 2016, we had a large group from MedImmune for a day, which was great in a very new garden space. We have had at least three days' of Community Payback doing wonderful jobs in the garden. Cambridge City Council Corporate volunteering info. At some point in 2023, we hope to have access again to toilets in the new pavilion, which will make longer sessions possible.
Our current and past gardeners:
Since 2014, lots of people have been involved, quite informally, in turning the dis-used bowling green into a 'community garden for everyone to enjoy'.
People and groups have included
28th Cambridge cubs, with Rotary Cambridge also under a grant from the RHS Greening Grey Britain.
Friends of Nightingale Park, but we don’t think they are active any longer.
Social and therapeutic horticulture groups from both Grow Places and Headway Cambridgeshire. These staffed projects no longer use the garden.
MedImmune team - at a CSR day in April 2016.
Papworth Owl's Horticulture Project.
Park users and people recruited locally via the Queen Edith's Community News, Sustrans-supported social walkers, Transition Cambridge and various social media outlets.
Networks we are part of:
Last updated: 13 September 2023