Information
Friends of TOM (FoTOM)
Details
The communal gardens and other external areas are maintained by external contractors. The contractors are managed by our Managing Agents.
The Friends of The Old Meadow group (FoTOM) was formed in 2019 and up until the restrictions brought about by Covid in 2020 included as many as 30 residents.
The group developed following conversations between neighbours at The Old Meadow who indicated their willingness and enthusiasm to "do their bit" to help both develop a sense of community spirit whilst working to bring small but important improvement to the general care and maintenance of the estate.
A WhatsApp group was set up for the Friends group to aid communication between the volunteers.
At early meetings of the group, which were held at The Peach Tree, on Abbey Foregate, discussions were held regarding the group's aims and objectives. These are now incorporated into a formal constitution.
The constitution was drawn up, with a clear understanding that the group's activities would be subject to both support and potential sanction by the board of directors of the Residents' Management Company Ltd.
An important aspect of the link between the RMC board and the Friends' group was a board decision to allocate an annual budget of £1000 to support the group's activities.
This money has allowed the purchase of equipment including, wheelbarrow, litter pickers, brushes, brooms, buckets and other gardening equipment. A quantity of green hi vis slipovers were also purchased both for the safety of volunteers whilst working on the site but also to help promote the presence and work of the group.
Covid restrictions have significantly restricted the Friend's activities over the past year, however, despite this, Friends' volunteers have continued to carry out the occasional litter pick, have planted winter bulbs and bedding and regularly empty the litter bin on the entrance road.
Within the last month a small but determined group worked hard to clear flood debris and mud from the courtyard gardens; squeegees, brooms and a wheelbarrow proving vital for this task!
In the near future we are hoping to involve Friends' volunteers in some of the work relating to planned improvements to the two courtyard gardens and to new planting at the rear of Montgomery House.
If you would like to become involved with the Friends of The Old Meadow please email friendsoftheoldmeadow@gmail.com with your details.
Use this email similarly if you would like to be included in the Friends' WhatsApp group.