Millennium Green

Click the title below to jump to sections of this page

Latest News
Fundraising
About Kingsland Millennium Green
Committee and Trustees


Latest News

February 24


April 23

Easter Rabbit, Grand National Sweepstake and Quarterly Draw winners

Congratulations to the winners of our recent Grand National draw who were Wendy Douglas 1st, Sarah Green 2nd, Liz Hicks 3rd and Trish and Mike Pothecary 4th. The draw raised £217.25 for Green maintenance, a very generous donation for the purchase of the Easter Rabbit’s chocolate eggs having been made by J.L.Engineering of Bank Farm, Kingsland.

The Easter Rabbit was again well received by children of all ages as he made three laps of the Green distributing eggs and little knitted chickens.

These little knitted chickens are the work of Susan and Brian Thorpe of Shirlheath who make many knitted items to be donated as fund raisers for many causes. They have been generously supplying us with these chicks for several years now which have added to the popularity of this fun event.  The Thorpes welcome all enquiries for prizes for fundraising events.

Congratulations too to Hilary Parsons and Nikki Gurney who won first and second prizes in our quarterly draw. This draw is a major source of fundraising for essential maintenance and upkeep costs of the Green and we welcome everyone who would like to take part.

Jackie Markham   and   Helen Flook

Hon. Treasurer               Trustee.

email kmgtreasurer@outlook.com


KINGSLAND MILLENNIUM GREEN INFORMATION.

The usual time for the Annual General Meeting of the Kingsland Millennium Green Trust is early May and this enables everyone to attend, vote on matters pertaining to the Green and voice their views. However, due to the covid-19 situation this will not be possible and it is intended to hold said meeting in July, on the assumption that the government’s roadmap works out and we will have no formal restrictions on meeting up. You will be formally advised of the date and venue when arrangements have been made.

There are still upkeep costs for the Green, although fundraising has been curtailed. There is a way in which everyone can help however, and that is to join up to the Quarterly Draw. This gives cash prizes and we encourage you, and others who enjoy the benefits of the Green, to join.  The cost is very small. Please contact either Jackie (708281) or Helen (07790273624)

It is clear the Green has been greatly appreciated during the past few months and we are proud to have been able to keep it in good order with both professional and voluntary help. Please feel free to make use of the fresh air and exercise options, whilst ensuring that you stay safe and well.

It is a community project supported by the individuals in the community and as such a very valuable asset. It should be noted that the maintenance of the Green is totally funded by voluntary contributions received from within the Community. No funding is received from either the Parish Council or Herefordshire Council in respect of ongoing maintenance. The Trustees are extremely grateful for the continued support for the Green from the residents of Kingsland and the surrounding area.

Thank you for your continued support
Andrew Parsons – 708592


15th January  KINGSLAND MILLENNIUM GREEN FUNDRAISING AND INFORMATION.

Hoping that everyone is keeping well and coping with ‘lockdown’ yet again.

This third lockdown obviously means that KMGT are not going to be able to run any major fundraising event or project for some time. The expenses, maintenance and running costs are of course ongoing!

There are two ways in which everyone can help however. One is to join up to the Quarterly Draw if you have not already done so and to encourage others who enjoy the benefits of the Green to do the same. The other is to buy a ticket for this year’s Grand National Sweep Stake. (We do not know if the Easter Rabbit will be able to make its appearance yet but believe that the Grand National will take place)

For both please contact either Jackie (708281) or Helen (07790273624)

It is clear the Green has been greatly appreciated during the past few months and we are proud to have been able to keep it in good order with both professional and voluntary help. Please feel free to make use of the fresh air and exercise options, whilst ensuring that you stay safe and well.

It is a community project supported by the individuals in the community and as such a very valuable asset. It should be noted that the maintenance of the Green is totally funded by voluntary contributions received from within the Community. No funding is received from either the Parish Council or Herefordshire Council in respect of ongoing maintenance. The Trustees are extremely grateful for the continued support for the Green from the residents of Kingsland and the surrounding area.

With the ongoing Covid restrictions unlikely to be lifted to any meaningful extent in the near future, it has been decided that the usual February open meeting of the KMGT trustees and anyone else interested in attending, will not be held. The situation will be reviewed at the end of March with the possibility of holding an AGM as usual in May – inevitably depending on the Covid situation at that time.

Thank you for your continued support

11th Jan 2021


4th January 2021 – Obituary – Bridget Eastaugh

On Christmas Eve we lost one of our most active founding members of the Kingsland Millennium Green Trust.

Bridget, recently widowed, had come to Willow Cottage in 1991 and was joined by her daughter Katie in 1993. In 1998 when the opportunity to buy the field, which is now the Millennium Green, was first floated to the parish they were two of the first to offer their expertise and experience for much needed fund raising.

Bridget, as the Bishop of Hereford’s wife, had been raising funds for many charities for many years and most recently had raised substantial sums for Saint Michael’s Hospice.

She directed us to many different potential sources of funding and most notably put her energies and contacts to masterminding with Katie our opening event Flaire, our two day many faceted event Blooms and Billhooks, and our hugely successful Auction of Promises. She supported every cake stall, concert, game of Bingo and raffle. And generously hosted visiting artists with bed, breakfast and beautiful meals. She hosted the event that took us to and beyond our target sum, a Summer birthday party for Katie!

Bridget had a great sense of humour and introduced our tradition of The Easter Rabbit, first generously lending the costume made by Bishop John for the family’s entertainment. She was adamant that the Rabbit should not set off before all the children attending the morning service had left the Church and so we devised a flag waving signal of which Bridget was was in  charge for many years. It works perfectly!

Bridget was a great friend to The Green, attending every management meeting until she was too unwell and I believe she was always proud of our collective achievement and remembered those hectic days with affection.

We will always be in her debt.

K.M.G.T.

January 2nd 2021


WILDFLOWERS

From the word ‘go’ in 1998 the trustees have sought to encourage wild flowers and grasses to thrive on the Millennium Green. In 1999 primroses, cowslips, wild daffodils and English bluebells were planted and seeds from an existing old hay meadow in the village were scattered.

Over the years various surveys have been carried out and the plants recorded but it is only very recently the a bespoke Wildflower Sub-committee has been formed, now thwarted by the corona virus lock down!  However, kind and interested people who are still able to visit the Green have been sending photos of the plants they have seen. These are so uplifting we thought it would be good to share them with everyone so have asked if they could feature on Kingslandlife as we go through 2020.

Keep an eye out for them!

J.M.


K.M.G.T.

Dog Warden

The Millennium Green Trust is delighted that Philip Christopher has volunteered to be our dog warden!  We are really grateful to have his help.

Philip often walks his dog Purdy, a very friendly and well behaved pale rough collie, on the Green and round the village.

We are always anxious to keep the Green a pleasant and safe place for everyone to enjoy and have notices on all three gates asking dog walkers to clean up after their dogs.

Maintenance of the Green is financed entirely by voluntary contributions and fund raising activities. A great way of helping towards our costs is to take part in our quarterly prize draw, please contact me for details.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Jackie Markham

Vice-Chairman K.M.G.T.  Charity number 1070085



15.3.16 – Tree Pruning on the Green

James Bisset instructing a young volunteer
James Bisset instructing a young volunteer

On Saturday 12th March 2016 twelve volunteers guided by James Bisset, Herefordshire’s expert in orchards and fruit tree pruning, tackled the apple trees on the Green and burnt the cuttings in the fire bay.  It was a very productive morning and everything is now ready for the coming months. Last year we had a huge apple crop; I wonder what it will be this Autumn?

The grass also had it’s first mowing two days later.

WARNNG: We noticed that rabbits have been extremely busy this Winter and have dug a huge number of small holes in the grass. We shall do our best to fill them in before the chief of rabbits visits the Green on Easter Sunday, but do be careful not to trip up if you are running or playing on the Green.

Inspecting holes dug by rabbits
Inspecting holes dug by rabbits
Burning the off cuts
Burning the off cuts

logo 14.3.16Registered Charity No. 1070085

 


Fundraising

shoes etc 10 rabbit10raceThe Easter Rabbit distributes chocolate eggs on the Green after morning service, at approximately 12.15 p.m. on every Easter Sunday. To pay for his  eggs we run a Grand National Sweepstake. If you would like to help by selling tickets please get in touch. We would be really grateful.

The Grand National Sweepstake proceeds are distributed as follows – 55% Easter Rabbit’s Eggs & Funds : 20% 1st Horse : 12% 2nd Horse : 8% 3rd Horse : 5% 4th Horse

millennium-green-marqueeThe committee is always interested to hear of possible use of the green for non-commercial rental use. (eg a Marquee was put on the Green for a wedding reception). Please see hiring conditions here or contact Jackie Markham on 01568 708281.

Please note: At the KMGT Management meeting in January 2011, it was decided that, for safety reasons, NO fireworks would be allowed on the Green at any time.

Donations are always welcome – please contact our Treasurer (see Management table at the bottom of this page)


About Kingsland Millennium Green

Kingsland Millennium Green is a 1.4 acre site located in the centre of Kingsland, near Leominster, Herefordshire and is the typical green serving the village and anyone passing by who wants to stop, reflect on life’s rich patterns or just admire the view.

Millenium-Green-House-play-areaThe field that is now the Millennium Green was bought by the community in 1998 with the aid of grants, gifts, loans and a great many and varied fund-raising events.

Hedges were renewed with native plants; three specimen hard wood trees were planted along with traditional apple and nut trees and several hundred wild flower plugs. The redundant buildings were replaced with a children’s play area and an oak open-sided pavilion. A small piece of ground nearest the Church was hedged off and surfaced for car parking.

The trustees (see table below) are responsible for the care of the Green. Half the grass is cut regularly throughout the summer, the remaining meadow grass is cut in the late summer and the crop is removed which has the effect of impoverishing the ground and encouraging more varieties of native wild plants and grasses to establish themselves every year, and providing a suitable habitat for insects, birds and mammals. See under Flora & Fauna (left hand side menu) for details of General Plants and Grasses which can be found on the Green.

Milleium-Green-eventFunds are raised regularly for our maintenance costs and insurance via a quarterly lottery, sponsorships, many regular donations and intermittent fund raising events (left hand side menu).

Every Easter Sunday the Easter Rabbit makes his appearance on the Green. He tries to time his arrival to coincide with the end of morning service. Laden with baskets of chocolate eggs he is chased for these by the children, you have to be quick! A Grand National sweepstake is run by the trustees to raise money for purchasing the Rabbit’s eggs – see under Fundraising.

millennium-green-no-dogsThe Green can be used for informal games, picnics etc every day of the year. Dogs are welcome, but please clean up after them. This is extremely important as the green is used by children of all ages. If you bring a picnic do please take away your rubbish. Please do not leave glass, tins or other litter.

The Green can be booked by other village charities for events at no cost but with certain conditions and by private individuals for an agreed fee; recently it was the venue for a wedding reception, the church fete, and carols by lantern light. It cannot be used for commercial gain. For details please apply to the Secretary or see the link to the Hiring Conditions under Fundraising above.

A tithe map shows an orchard on the land, and old photographs show fruit trees, now long gone. Standard, widely spaced, apple trees have been planted on a ‘derelict broken grid’ to eventually give the appearance of an ancient orchard, and the area extends to a meadow that runs along side the mown open area. Most recently a copse of woodland trees has been planted in the southern most corner.

Apple trees include: Gennet Moyle, Tom Putt, Scotch Bridget, Peasgood Nonsuch, Golden Noble, downton Pippin and the Herefordshire varieties of Golden Harvey, King of the Pippins, Stoke Edith Pippin and Herefordshire Russett.  Get a full list by clicking here (compiled April 2019)

millennium-green-orchard-mapIn 2008, we celebrated our tenth anniversary by planting a copse of woodland trees in the southern-most corner of the Green. The copse consists of 42 hazels planted in groups of six, 3 Guelder Roses, 2 Dog Roses, 3 Wayfaring trees, 3 Hawthorn, 2 Spindles and 2 Dogwood. All trees are now sponsored and a plan of them is shown here

Many common wild flowers have been recorded including Celandine, Ox-eye or Moon Daisy, Hawkweed, St John’s Wort, Travellers Joy, Yarrow, Hedge Mustard, Scarlet Pimpernel, Violet, Burdock, Medick, Clover, Herb Bennet, Herb Robert, White Briony, Stitch Wort and in the last two seasons an Orchid. Primroses, Narcissus, English Blue Bells and Cowslips were introduced as plugs.

Details of all the tress, flora and fauna including complete listings can be found in Millennium Green – Extra Information. If you spot anything else that should be added to these lists please let the committee know!

Registered Charity No 1070085


Committee and Trustees

Name Position Phone Number
Richard Harris Chairman & Trustee 01568 709310
Jackie Markham Acting Treasurer
Andrew Parsons Hon Secretary 01568 708592
VACANT Treasurer
Nikki Gurney Trustee
Katie Cave-Browne-Cave Trustee
Rev. Julie Read Trustee
Helen Flook Trustee
Philip Christopher Trustee
Tricia Pothecary Trustee
Paul Saunders Trustee

millennium-green-millennium-commission-logo millenium-green-countryside-agency-logo millennium-green-hereforshire-council-logo