EXCITING COMMUNITY SPACE

The latest stage in the development of the community space in Springfield is now complete. Just before Christmas, the new Bike Flow Track was finished, and last weekend saw the brand new Community Pantry in place, along with the signageforthefitnessstations.

On Sunday, February 26th, the sun shone for the Open Day at Tawera Reserve in Springfield to celebrate this latest stage. Little and big kids enjoyed the new bike track, the fitness stations were getting a work out and the pantrywasbrimming fulloffresh produce.

The Pantry is community-led, for the community, by the community. It is not run by one person or group, it is up to the community to make it work for everyone. If you have spare garden produce, jars, flowers, seeds etc that someone else could get the use of, please feel free to drop them in the pantry. It is situated on the west side of Tawera Reserve by the Fire

Station fence. The Pantry will be checked regularly to make sure anything left is fresh. Once you have dropped something o , feel free to put a post on the Springfield Community Hub’s Facebook page to let people know.

This is another ‘big tick’ in the development of this space for our community, Tawera Reserve isdefinitelygrowing into thehub that we are working towards. Now we can start working onthe next stage, planning is underway and we are excited for the future ofthisspace.

On one of the hotter summer days, nineteen garden club members were treated to a garden walk and afternoon tea at MoriaFarrell’s MoriaFarrell’s MoriaFarrell’s MoriaFarrell’samazinggardenonHoskynsRoad.

The once bare paddock, eleven years ago, has been lovingly created into a paradise garden. One feature was the Rondell lawn - a round hedged lawn of 120 trees where members were able to sit and enjoy the shade of the trees while taking in the simplicity and tranquillity of this special area in the garden. The Buxus knot garden, grown from cuttings, the Pinot Noir vineyard, beautifully set garden seats and tables throughout wereplacesto sit and reflect. So many treasureshiddenaway in this garden; a patch of soft pink cyclamen, a little pond for the ornamental ducks, the splashes of colour from the dahlias, roses, hydrangeas, autumn crocus, the native plantings and the ‘bunnies’ guarding the bunker and so much more. Moria and her friend Maree Maree served us a lovely afternoon tea under the big gum tree complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and tea served in beautiful old bone EnglishChinacups.

A lovely afternoon concluded with a presentation and thanks to Carol Williams Carol CarolWilliams Williams Carol Williams who is leaving the district. She has contributed as Secretary and committee member over the years, and our good wishesgowithher.

Lee Stokes.

We would like to thank the following ‘locals that support locals’; Rejuvenateyou Health, Fitness and Wellbeing for the activity signs fundedbyproceeds from the Springfield Christmas Markets, Men’s Shed in Darfield for the Community Pantry, Curle Contracting for the supply of surfacing material for the track and T5 Contracting for the bike trackconstruction.

Emma Stead.