May 22 - Our Progress To Date

Annual Review
We recently submitted our Annual Review to Triodos Bank, our mortgage company, which gave us an opportunity to focus on our achievements during the past year and to set our objectives for the year ahead.

Our biggest achievement, of course, was to complete on the purchase of Berry Park after a few months of difficult negotiations; including obtaining change of planning from holiday lets to residential use. 

The first members started moving in towards the end of June 2021 and since then, we have been settling in to our individual apartments and starting work on the many community projects which we need to complete.

Main achievements during the first 10 months:

• PIV system installed in 2 apartments to improve air quality and solve damp and mould issues.
• New fire alarm and smoke detection system has been installed throughout the entire property.
• Car Park - In late 2021 we resurfaced the car parking area which was getting very muddy. Costs were kept low by using the expertise and labour of our members.
• Chickens – We increased the number of chickens from 2 to 8 and constructed a run.  Now Avian Flu restrictions have been partially lifted, we can regularly move the run, enabling the chickens to have access to fresh grass, whilst the land benefits from their manure. 
• New Windows and Doors have been fitted in several properties to replace defective ones.
• Veg Garden - We have constructed temporary compost bays which are already working well.  We have also created 8 no-dig vegetable beds and started sowing and planting.  We plan to have a total of 10 productive beds this year and make use of the existing polytunnel and 2 greenhouses.
• Forest Garden – We have completed a Biodiversity audit and an Aerial Survey and engaged a garden designer to prepare detailed plans.
• Holiday Let – after redecorating we have now had our first bookings in our dedicated holiday let.
• Improvements to individual properties include new carpets with insulated underlay, improvements to kitchens, redecorating and a new shower room.

Plans for the coming year:

• Recruitment – we hope to find permanent members for the 2 remaining apartments and complete our Berry Park team.
• Roof – we will be replacing 2 areas of flat roofs and insulating a third. Work is planned to commence in June 2022.
• Sewerage and Water Management – we plan to replace the old septic tank and drainage system.
• Improve EPC Ratings – we plan to improve our ratings via a number of measures including the roof and carpet insulation, the replacement doors and windows, installing some wood burners, installing solar pv panels.
• Forest Garden – once the plans are drawn up, we will start marking out paths and planting areas in preparation for starting tree planting in the autumn.
• Vegetable Garden – we will apply for planning permission for 2 more polytunnels
• Compost Toilets - we hope to build 2 compost toilets