Community review of 2020
As an independent, family run company we feel it is incredibly important to give back to the local community. Although 2020 was rather different with many of our regular events cancelled due to the pandemic we did still manage to support some very worthy causes. Here is a summary of the work we have done in 2020 with local charities and schools.
Nightingale House Hospice
In 2007 Joan Bellis decided it would be appropriate to concentrate our charity fundraising on Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham. Since then we have worked in association with this wonderful charity and have helped raise over £137,000.00.
Our grand total for 2020 was £3,618.40 which was still fantastic considering we were unable to run many of our usual events including the Easter Chick Hunt, Dog Show and Family Fun Day, Christmas Launch Night and Santa’s Grotto. We improvised slightly and ran a very popular Virtual Dog Show which raised £1000 and in December we held a Festive Pet Photo Competition. We also offered a Festive Breakfast and Afternoon Tea in the Strawberry Fields Restaurant, until we had to go into lockdown again!
The money we raise helps the hospice to continue providing specialist palliative care for patients and their families. We would like to thank all of our customers for their support and we look forward to a hopefully more normal 2021 for our fundraising events.
Age Connect North East Wales We were unable to organise our ‘Bingo Evening’ this year but we hope to be able to run it in 2021.
Bellis’ Coffee Club
Bellis’ Coffee Club has been unable to run since the pandemic, we hope to introduce this again as soon as it is safe to do so. We miss you all so much. It is a chance to meet up with people regularly for a coffee and catch up. No booking is required. We sometimes have special guests from external groups join us to give friendly advice and information. A special offer is available for all attendees, £2.50 per person for a hot or cold drink with a toasted teacake or slice of Victoria or Coffee sponge.
Working with Schools
A warm welcome is always offered to our local school children who are interested in learning about farming and growing plants.
The Country Trust
During 2020 we were only able to accommodate groups during the month of October. Hopefully for 2021 we will be able to welcome them in the summer months as usual. We have been working in partnership with The Country Trust for a few years now, to deliver Farm Discovery Visits to 90 children from 3 local schools. The Country Trust is a small, dynamic, national education charity dedicated to bringing alive the working countryside for children least able to access it. They work with local volunteer host farms to bring food, farming and the countryside to disadvantaged children. Sharing knowledge, igniting curiosity and broadening horizons.
Holt CP Primary School
We normally work closely with our local school but last year due to the pandemic, we were unable to do so. We hope that we may be able to run our usual Spring planting wellies workshop with the reception class, we really enjoy the children coming to visit and plant up their own wellies with pansies to take back to school. At Christmas Holt School children usually very kindly join us to sing some carols to kick off our festive events. We really hope that we can do this again in 2021.
Farndon Primary School
We did manage to visit Farndon school before lockdown, helping them plant up
some wellies and brighten up their outside play area and garden. A lovely morning was had by all!
Holt Community Gardeners
In 2020 we donated the proceeds from our carrier bag charge to this worthy group. The total donated was £322.31 and this will be used towards plants and equipment for their ongoing projects.
Cheshire Candles Charity Classic Car Run
This was unfortunately unable to run in 2020. This is a fabulous event and a wonderful array of classic car beauties join us on the event paddock. They raise over £3500 each year for two local charities. For 2021 we will be the finish for this event, so more time will be available for you to have a look at the wonderful selection of cars on show. Once we have confirmation of the new date for 2021 we will let you know.
Teenage Cancer Trust
One of our regular customers and neighbour actively supports the Teenage Cancer Trust and has raised a phenomenal amount of money for the charity. Enid Waterfall is an inspiration to us all, tirelessly raising money for this charity and always with a smile on her face and a cheery comment. Enid regularly collects at our tills and raises in excess of £300 every time. Keep up the good work Enid and we look forward to working with you in 2021!
Knit & Knatter Group
A group of local ladies starting joining us in the Strawberry Fields Restaurant every Thursday morning from 9.30am. We hope this will continue once it is safe to do so. They are always keen to welcome new members.
1378 Mold Squadron Air Training Corps (Cadets)
We recently started working with the team at 1378 Mold Squadron, helping create awareness for them and assisting us with our visitor parking at our larger events. A keen and enthusiastic bunch their help was greatly appreciated. There were no major events for them to help with in 2020 but we hope to be working with them again soon.
Motor Neurone Disease Association North East Wales
Our local MND group held a regular support ‘coffee club’ in the Strawberry Fields Restaurant for those affected in any way by MND. This is usually the first Tuesday of every month and is from 2.30pm until 4pm. For further details please visit https://www.mndnortheastwales.org/support-meetings We hope that this will restart this year as soon as it is safe to do so.
Local Groups
Many local groups and charities have joined us to have an awareness table about their group/charity. Over the past few years we have been joined by: MND Wrexham, Beating Bowel Cancer, Nightingale House Lottery, Woodland Trust, World Wildlife Fund and R.S.P.B. We have also hosted events in our Strawberry Fields Restaurant for the Inner Wheel Club of Wrexham, Erddig and Wrexham Rotary.
We look forward to an exciting and active 2021 within our community!
