The Citizen, 2015-05-07, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015.
Form of proposed Blyth gardening club still unknown
With the disbanding of the Blyth
Horticultural Society, there are a lot
of volunteers and gardens in the
community whose future is up in the
air.
The disbanding of the society was
first announced during a special
garden-oriented meeting between
North Huron Township staff and
local stakeholders last month.
The meeting was set to create an
inventory of gardens in the
community and determine who, if
anyone, is responsible for them.
While the end of a nearly-100-
year-old society isn’t inherently a
good thing, news came from that
meeting that another group might be
formed to take its place. What that
group will be, however, won’t be
decided until after another meeting
with North Huron staff at the
Emergency Services Training
Centre (ESTC) on May 14 at
7 p.m.
Last month, when the society did
disband, it was done so with the
hopes that the remaining members
and finances could be used to help
jump-start a new garden club that,
with the assistance and guidance of
North Huron staff, would be able to
maintain all the greenspaces that had
previously been overseen by the
Horticultural Society.
The group could also help to co-
ordinate other individuals and
groups responsible for greenspaces.
There are, however, still many
questions about what that group will
look like.
Lissa Kolkman, who wanted to
help with the Horticultural Society
prior to the disbandment
announcement, said that she is
excited at the possibilities that the
club represents.
“We need a group that will bring
all the other volunteers and
committees together to work as one
community,” she said. “There is
communication, but we just need to
bring everyone together.”
While Kolkman is excited about
the development of the group, she
did say that there is a lot of work left
to be done in determining what the
group will be, who will be a part of
it and how it fits in with North Huron
Township.
Some suggestions from the
initial meeting call for the group
to be volunteers under the
township, however some more
individuals have suggested that
may discourage volunteers that
want to be involved.
Kolkman doesn’t represent any
particular group but, like so many
other people in the area, started
helping when she saw a need.
“Last year, I noticed that the
Horticultural Park on Dinsley street
was looking neglected,” she said. “I
did some weeding there, just trying
to help out, which led to me talking
to people which led to me wanting to
be involved.”
Kolkman’s actions have
encouraged others and she has
developed a list of people interested
in being involved.
“Whether it was the Horticultural
Society or a new group, what has
been built needs to be maintained,”
she said.
Kolkman also knows that the
Blyth Lions Club and the Blyth
Business Improvement Area (BIA)
are both interested in being involved.
While she doesn’t mind keeping
people appraised of the situation,
Kolkman said that people interested
in the future of the gardens in the
area really need to make sure they
attend the May 14 meeting. They can
also get in touch with North Huron
Director of Facilities and Recreation
Pat Newson.
Kolkman said that there are no
plans on the table as to what a new
group would look like, but, from the
original meeting with North Huron
staff, she now has an idea of what it
needs to do.
“We need to maintain the gardens
we have,” she said. “We need to
make sure that all the gardens
mentioned at the meeting are kept
up. Given what was said there, I
don’t think that’s going to be a
problem because people are already
taking care of them.”
She also said the group needs to
inspire people to get involved and
she hopes that some talented and
experienced landscapers come
forward to help.
“We really need some direction for
the big picture view of the gardens in
the community,” she said. “People
are excited and they want to do
something, but we just don’t have
the experience.”
Kolkman added that anyone
should feel comfortable coming to
the meeting on May 14 because it’s
all about the community.
“I’ve heard there is a lot of
interest, so there should be people
there, but there is always room for
more,” she said. “We welcome
everyone.”
For more information about the
meeting or about the gardens in the
community, contact Newson at 519-
357-1208, extension 22.
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Continued on page 13