Author: irara

It’s been a long hard road over the last 18 months, particularly so for some of us who have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic, but it is now beginning to look as though there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

IRARA have been busy trying to keep things as normal as possible, but obviously the social calendar has been decimated and even the AGM and committee meetings have difficult. Zoom has provided the means to stay in touch, but it remains very much a second rate alternative to real live discussion and social contact.

We have been able to carry on organising some ongoing tasks like (socially distanced) litter picks and preparation for the street light renovation programme, which we hope will start soon, but the Covid restrictions have curbed most of our activities up to now.

However, things are looking up, with two big announcements to make:

1: IRARA 2021 Street Sale

In accordance with Government guidelines, we will be able to hold a 2021 street sale on Saturday June 27th, where you will be able to flog off all that lockdown fitness gear which you bought and no longer need! But seriously, it will be good to see people out and about and getting back in touch with the community.

2: The Irvine Road Community Orchard

We can now announce that the long awaited Irvine Road Community Orchard (IRCO) is officially a reality. Those of you who have been following this saga over the past 20 years will be only too aware of how much effort has had to go into this achievement and, although we didn’t manage to get our hands on the entire orchard, we have managed to save the majority of it as a community orchard and Local Wildlife site.

As a result, the trustees of the new Community Orchard are organising an open day to coincide with the IRARA street sale on Sunday 27th of June. This will provide local residents (or anyone who is interested) to have a look around and see what all the fuss is about. Obviously, because of ongoing government restrictions (and to minimise environmental damage) numbers will need to be controlled, but we hope everyone who wants to look around will be able to do so.

Overall, access to the orchard has to be limited and carefully controlled to avoid defeating the object of maintaining and improving it as a wildlife sanctuary, however there will be opportunities throughout the season to visit and harvest fruit once the new trees are established. If you are interested to know more and want to keep up to date, check out the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Irvine Road Community Orchard or visit the IRCO page on this website.

A most important part of the Orchard’s development will be to preserve it for future generations, which will mean raising the funds to buy rather than lease it. If you are interested in helping out, or would just like to make a donation, get in touch or visit the IRCO Local Giving page to find out more.

The festive season will soon be upon us, starting with the most important social event of the year, the IRARA annual Christmas get together.

It’s an informal occasion when friends and neighbours meet up at the Arclight Bowls Club in Eudo Road for a drink and a chat, so if you want to catch up with everything that’s happened this year or have just moved into the area and want to meet people, why not come along.

There is a lot to talk about this year with the new Irvine Road Community Orchard finally coming to fruition as well as a full calendar of social events planned for the new year, so please do join us for a (very reasonably priced) christmas drink.

Remember, you don’t need to be a member, everyone is welcome.

The 2019 Annual General Meeting of Irvine Road Area Residents’ association was held on October 4th and was well attended.

As part of our ongoing commitment to involve the local community we are still looking for new members, so if you feel like getting involved, get in touch.

The IRARA workload has increased significantly with the recent community orchard success, so we are also on the lookout for extra hands on the committee. Again, if you’re interested, get in touch.

AGM meeting Friday 4th October 2019 minutes

At last, after more than a decade of campaigning the Irvine Road Community Orchard is finally taking shape. It’s been a long, hard fight and we didn’t manage to save all of the existing orchard, but the remaining 60% is now set to become the new community orchard and wildlife site we’ve always wanted.

If you can, please come along to the open day and have a look around. At the moment the builders are still very much in evidence as the new houses are being built, but the orchard is taking shape and we will soon be looking for members of the local community and any volunteers from further afield who are interested in getting involved.

 

It’s that time of year again! The 2019 IRARA Annual General Meeting is scheduled for October 4th at the Arclight Bowls Club. It’s Friday night and there will be a very reasonably priced bar available for those who feel the need. As always, non-members are welcome and you can join IRARA on the night, it’s only £3 per household.

We hope to see you there.