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Wednesday, April 4, 2012 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Orono Weekly Times - 5 Heritage garden blooms in Newcastle After many years of dreaming, organizing and fundraising, Jeannie Barrett is thrilled the shovel is finally going into the ground for the Heritage Gardens at the Newcastle Community Centre. Jeannie Barrett, project chair for the garden rejuvenation project told the Orono Times she began dreaming about the project in 2006. "In 2006 I started to notice the gardens were overrun," Barrett explained. As the gardens were adjacent to a heritage building, Barrett thought they should be more formal, to reflect the heritage of the Community Centre. While there is no evidence there were gardens around the hall when it was built in 1922, Barrett says her committee worked with landscape designers on a vision for the gardens that reflected the era the hall was built to achieve a more manicured look. A Heritage Garden Committee was formed in 2007 which was a collaborative of Newcastle Horticultural Society, Newcastle Community Hall Board and the Municipality of Clarington, according to Barrett. When the committee heard late in March of last year that their application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation was successful, a fundraising committee was formed and an earnest effort to raise more funds for the remaining project budget ensued. Trillium Foundation had awarded the project a grant of $123,400 towards their total project budget of almost $200,000. Fundraising efforts included an Eagles Tribute concert last year which sold-out quickly and raised nearly $10,000. Other fundraising efforts included a mammoth yard sale, plant sales, a very successful brunch and soliciting grants from community groups and organizations. A second Eagles Tribute concert held on Saturday night which raised another $11,000 which brought the group to their fundraising goal of $75,000 according to Barrett. The group will continue to fundraise for a number of items such as benches, garbage recepticles and archways which were on their wish list but removed from the plans due to costing concerns, Barrett told The Times. Some preliminary work was undertaken during the winter months in preparation for the real work on the gardens to be done this spring. A total of nine trees have been removed from the grounds surrounding the Community Centre. The two blue spruce trees on the east Work on the Heritage Garden Project at the Newcastle Community Centre began bright and early Monday morning. It is expected the project will be completed by June. side of the building which were diseased were removed to make room for the fountain which will be relocated from its current location beside the cenotaph to this area. A number of maple trees were removed from the west side of the building because they were planted too close to the hall, and it was determined by committee member Bob Genosko, a certified arborist and a supervisor with Clarington's Operations Department, that they would interfere with the building's foundation. The oak tree behind the cenotaph, according to Genosko, had not been doing well for years, as it had been planted too deep into the ground. Barrett says she has received some negative feedback from the community regarding the removal of the existing trees to make room for the gardens, and says she understands the concern. Barrett stresses it was the committee's decision to have the trees removed after concerns were raised about potential damage to the build- Loyal Printing Ltd. "Everything with the printed word" We now offer full colour digital printing! 5310 Main St., Orono L0B 1M0 · 905-983-5301 ing's foundation. "The decision was not made lightly," she stated. While it had been suggested by some that the trees could have been transplanted, Barrett says, "The cost of doing so was prohibitive, and the chances of survival were not great." The committee would like to acknowledge those who donated trees that were removed, and if someone donated a tree that the committee is not aware of, Barrett says, "Let us know and it will be acknowledged." One of the objectives of the revamped garden is to have the cenotaph area more balanced and to have the cenotaph "stand on its own." according to Barrett. The area around the cenotaph will be widened to provide room for ceremonies and a garden of roses will be planted around the monument. Barrett hopes to have other designated areas in the garden for specialty plants. She hopes the garden will be an attraction that people will want to come and see. It is anticipated a grand opening celebration for the completed garden will be held sometime in June.