Care In The Garden, a community enterprise with a social conscience, has learnt valuable lessons by sticking to its plan.
The Garden team were awarded a Gold Medal for their display stall at this year’s Chale Show. Their display was assembled to show people all of the services provided and the many goods for sale, including items in the nursery; plants; containers; woodwork and ceramics.
A community showcase
The Chale Show has become an established part of the Island’s events calendar, showcasing the achievements of ordinary working people who volunteer to make a change possible in their local community.
Organising such large scale public events takes months of planning and unrelenting hard work, so facing the decision of cancelling the show due to terrible weather conditions was difficult.
Facing the challenges
Setting up this year’s show was hazardous and risky with strong winds and heavy showers of rain.
Marquees anchored by tent pegs were in danger of being lifted out of the field.
A rewarding outcome
Given the show was cancelled on Saturday, it was all the more rewarding when weather conditions improved on Sunday, and all the hard work and preparations, which had been shelved, resulted in a great day for everyone involved.
For Care In The Garden, a small independent Community Interest Company, to pack down, leave the site, and then return to set up again the next day was tough. Winning a Gold Medal for their display was a brilliant achievement, and meant a lot to the supported workers, volunteers and staff, who make the project work in challenging economic times.
Looking forward
A big thank you was extended to the people who supported The Chale Show, which means so much to local people.
Next year, Care In The Garden, and many others, will be there to give extra support in the big moments, even if it means bailing out rainwater, bracing down structures against howling winds, and wading through mud.
