The end of HDRA/Garden Organic?
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alan refail
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Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
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alan refail
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Sorry, Diane,
Here's what it said:
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Garden Organic’s Ryton Gardens is closing its garden centre and café to make way for an interactive education centre.
The move was prompted by leaseholder and operator Webbs Garden Centres ending the lease early using the release clause.
Ryton was an organic-only garden centre which Webbs took over in 2010 and was the only UK centre where organic produce was "first choice".
The charity’s chairman of trustees Roger Key said trustees now want to "concentrate on the core objectives of the charity" at the 4ha gardens in Ryton, Coventry.
A library, displays about Garden Organic’s work, organic gardening demonstrations and experiments in gardens are all planned. The six-strong professional gardening team will also redesign and rework the demonstration gardens.
Webbs chairman Ed Webb said: "Webbs gave notice to Garden Organic on ending its lease of the shop and cafe at Ryton Gardens in January this year in order to focus more on its successful stores at Wychbold and West Hagley.
"Garden Organic has announced exciting plans to re-launch a new education and resource centre at Ryton Gardens and we wish them every success for the future."
"We would like to thank the dedicated and hardworking Webbs Ryton Gardens team and had been striving for the operations to transfer to Garden Organic. Unfortunately Garden Organic has made the decision not to operate the shop and cafe in the future. We are in active discussions with staff looking at alternative employment within Webbs and will provide every support possible including, where appropriate, practical help with finding alternative employment."
Here's what it said:
Be the first to comment
Garden Organic’s Ryton Gardens is closing its garden centre and café to make way for an interactive education centre.
The move was prompted by leaseholder and operator Webbs Garden Centres ending the lease early using the release clause.
Ryton was an organic-only garden centre which Webbs took over in 2010 and was the only UK centre where organic produce was "first choice".
The charity’s chairman of trustees Roger Key said trustees now want to "concentrate on the core objectives of the charity" at the 4ha gardens in Ryton, Coventry.
A library, displays about Garden Organic’s work, organic gardening demonstrations and experiments in gardens are all planned. The six-strong professional gardening team will also redesign and rework the demonstration gardens.
Webbs chairman Ed Webb said: "Webbs gave notice to Garden Organic on ending its lease of the shop and cafe at Ryton Gardens in January this year in order to focus more on its successful stores at Wychbold and West Hagley.
"Garden Organic has announced exciting plans to re-launch a new education and resource centre at Ryton Gardens and we wish them every success for the future."
"We would like to thank the dedicated and hardworking Webbs Ryton Gardens team and had been striving for the operations to transfer to Garden Organic. Unfortunately Garden Organic has made the decision not to operate the shop and cafe in the future. We are in active discussions with staff looking at alternative employment within Webbs and will provide every support possible including, where appropriate, practical help with finding alternative employment."
Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
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FelixLeiter
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alan refail wrote:A library, displays about Garden Organic’s work, organic gardening demonstrations and experiments in gardens are all planned. The six-strong professional gardening team will also redesign and rework the demonstration gardens.
This is sad news. But HDRA has always been resilient, so I don't think this will mark an ending. I do know of one current employee who is actively prospecting for work elsewhere, though I don't think that signifies.
I'd be pleased if the existing gardening team are to redesign and rework the gardens. In the past, a gallimaufry of mountebanks have been granted expensive contracts to implement designs on the site when all along there has been some tremendous in-house talent left untapped — dispiriting for the staff and expensive for the organisation. Prince Charles is their patron, and he bankrolls many projects. I don't think he'll let it sink.
Allotment, but little achieved.
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PLUMPUDDING
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I've been a member for over 20 years although I don't get down there very often. It was quite a big change when Webbs opened their shop but still a very interesting garden. I wasn't sure what to make of the shop and restaurant closing. Will there still be a catering facility and will the educational side of things preclude the general public from visiting?
It is a long way to travel if there is nowhere to get refreshments and it will lose out if members are not encouraged to visit.
It is a lovely garden with such a lot of interesting ideas I hope they don't change too much. I can see that the shop and restaurant were very expensive to run and they can probably raise far more funds from grants by concentrating on the educational side.
Good luck to them whatever they do. I've had some lovely crops from seeds from their Seed Library and always look forward to making my choice for next year. It is a very valuable resource and needs as much support as it can get.
It is a long way to travel if there is nowhere to get refreshments and it will lose out if members are not encouraged to visit.
It is a lovely garden with such a lot of interesting ideas I hope they don't change too much. I can see that the shop and restaurant were very expensive to run and they can probably raise far more funds from grants by concentrating on the educational side.
Good luck to them whatever they do. I've had some lovely crops from seeds from their Seed Library and always look forward to making my choice for next year. It is a very valuable resource and needs as much support as it can get.