Music event at Firs Farm Community Hub will raise money for the next phase of this ambitious project

With the Firs Farm Community Hub now well established, the group that got it built is now raising funds for a sensory garden next to the Hub. To help them towards their target, they're organising an afternoon of live music next Sunday. So watch this interview with Toni Guiver, stroll over to Firs Farm on Sunday, listen to the music, enjoy something to eat and drink, and pay a visit to the wetlands to admire the flora and fauna.

At the Summer Live Music event on Sunday 5th July, between 2pm and 6pm, enjoy local bands playing 90s Indie, Funk, Soul and Rock'n'Roll to raise funds for a sensory garden

It's now approaching two and a half years since the Friends of Firs Farm Wetlands, under the energetic leadership of Toni Guiver, fulfilled their dream of opening a Community Hub near to the wonderful wetlands that were created ten years ago when a buried stream was "daylighted" and a previously rather dull expanse of playing fields began to turn into a little nature paradise.

The Community Hub is now firmly established as a spot for locals to stop off for refreshments and catch up with friends. On top of that, the rooms that can be hired out host a range of activities during the day, while in the evening the Hub serves as a venue for some exceptional live music. To ensure that as many people as posslble can use the Hub, the specification for the prefabricated, but custom-built, building included a highly accessible changing-places toilet.

You might think that, having achieved so much, Toni might be tempted to rest on her laurels. No way!

In the video on this page, filmed by Shakira Ortiz, Toni reveals the next new feature that the Friends are planning, a sensory garden:

"We've built a secret gate down the side here. We want to open that gate and go into a secret garden that will be shared with everyone. With planters, with pollinator plants in it, something to tickle all the senses, and lovely pathways that lead you around the space. At the back we've got a lovely compost area where we put little creatures, to that children can understand what they might find in the compost area..

"But now we want to take it to the next level and bring an amazing sensory garden where we can all go and enjoy it."

Toni walks through a gate in a tall wooden fence:

“So we're through the other side of that little gate that we saw and we're into this amazing space. It's huge, and what we want to do is have a nice path that leads you out into the middle, but with planters all around and benches. We want to make it an accessible space for everyone to come and enjoy. We've already put in a lavender planter - just a little taste of what's to come.”

Artist's impression of the projected sensory garden next to the Firs Farm Community Hub

“What we now need to do is, with your help we can raise the money. We've already got a professional team of designers through the Society of Landscepe Designers - they'e doing this pro bono. We've very grateful to them. All they want us to do is get the money so we can build what they're going to create on paper. You've seen some of the plans, you've seen our fundraiser advert, so join us on Sunday. Come along, sit in the Firs Farm wetlands, enjoy listening to the live music - we have several bands from 2pm to 6pm.

“It's going to be some much fun! Please come an join us!”