FORTY HALL VINEYARD
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 2
WINTER 2010
Business Award for Vineyard
Forty Hall Vineyard has won THE RSA TRUST START UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD presented by Enterprise Enfield and the RSA Trust. Judith Lear (Chair) and Sarah Vaughan-Roberts (Project Manager) attended the award presentation on 4th November and collected the prize on behalf of everyone involved in the vineyard project since the beginning. Congratulations to you all! The vineyard was selected from a shortlist of 27 new businesses and the prize was £1000. For more information about the awards go to: www.enterpriseenfield.org
Judith Lear, Chair of Forty Hall Vineyard is presented with the award
Better mental health at the vineyard
A recent grant award from the Lottery’s Ecominds fund will enable us to set up an exciting new pilot Horticultural Therapy project. The project is to develop a programme of supported horticultural activity at the vineyard designed to help people feel physically and mentally healthier, to make new friends and develop new skills. The funding for the pilot project lasts for one year and we are currently recruiting a part-time Horticultural Therapist to run the project. If the project is successful, we hope to extend and develop the Horticultural Therapy programme with funding from local mental health commissioners such as GP practices and social services.
Vineyard update – a sparkling future
The trellising has been installed in our second acre of Bacchus and thanks to the hard work of our fantastic team of vineyard volunteers, we have nearly finished weeding and mulching this plot. We are currently preparing the ground to plant up five acres of new vineyard next spring. We will be planting “noble” vine varieties used in the production of Champagne including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which we will use for the production of delicious English sparkling wine. English sparkling wine has gained a worldwide reputation, winning International awards in open competitions with Champagne and other established brands. The new planting is funded by the Lottery Local Food programme.
Volunteer news
Early September saw the astonishing effort by 80 young volunteers aged 16-25 who weeded half an acre of vineyard and applied 15 tonnes on mulch in one day. Thank you to all involved. See their efforts here
Vineyard volunteers took part in a really important evaluation and review day in October to give their feedback and ideas about how to improve & develop the vineyard project. The day was very enjoyable and included an English wine tasting and al fresco dining on pheasant stew and pomegranate couscous provided by our partners at Water House restaurant (run by the Shoreditch Trust). To read the report click here
Vineyard Voices
Mark Mendes – vine and fuchsia fan
I first got involved with the vineyard in spring 2010 and attended an interesting one day course on vineyard establishment offered to volunteers by the project. I am retired and have a passionate interest in gardening. I live locally, enjoy my allotment and am the Secretary of the Enfield Fuchsia Society. I am very interested in vines – I have two growing in my greenhouse at home which were planted over 20 years ago. I also volunteer in the Walled Garden at Capel Manor Gardens where I look after the vine in the glasshouse which produces excellent fruit. I enjoy volunteering at the vineyard for a number of reasons: it helps me keep physically fit, it gives me a new interest, it gets me out in the fresh air and I meet interesting and like-minded people. I particularly enjoy mowing the vineyard alleys on the small ride-on mower! I am looking forward to developing a small vine collection on site to show a range of vine varieties and pruning styles to the public.
The perfect Christmas gift
Less than 30 shopping days to Christmas! Stuck for an original idea for a present? What about buying a gift of vine sponsorship? Vine sponsorship costs £40 and recipients will get a free bottle of wine from our first vintage. The perfect gift for the wine lover in your life. Funds raised will help us to expand the vineyard and develop our services to the local community.
Special thanks to:
Capel Manor College for providing us with a fantastic, newly furnished, rent free office.
FAST Ltd for sponsoring one year’s free consultancy from their Vineyard Consultant, Duncan McNeill.
The Shoreditch Trust for the generous loan of two laptop computers.
London Waste for a third donation & delivery of 15 tonnes of their wonderful recycled green waste
A huge thank you to Onoyom Ekpiken for her fantastic voluntary work with us – we all wish her every success in Nigeria. Keep in touch!
Louise Ely for the huge bag of Just Change Network fair trade tea bags direct from producers in India.