Membership

Become a Member of Meadow Orchard

Help us create and sustain a thriving community space by becoming a member of the Meadow Orchard Project. Membership is how we remain a community-led organisation. It gives you a voice in how we grow, helps us meet our charitable commitments, and ensures the long-term care of the site.

As a member, you support the project and are invited to attend general meetings, vote on key decisions, and take an active role in shaping what Meadow Orchard becomes. Show up however you can. We value shared responsibility and support one another to keep everything going.

Member benefits:

Opportunity to lead or join working groups and subgroups on areas and projects that matter to you
Out-of-hours site access (where relevant to your voluntary work)
Possible discounts on site hire fees for your events and workshops
Voting rights at general meetings and on circulated proposals
Ability to elect trustees at the Annual General Meeting
Eligibility to stand as a trustee

What we’ll definitely need your help with:

Leading at least two volunteer sessions per year (training and support available)
Attending at least two general meetings annually (including the AGM)
Participating with any written resolutions shared with the membership

Subscription and joining

An annual membership subscription is currently £10, or £5 concession (no evidence required). Membership runs from 1st January to 31st December, regardless of when during the year payment is made. You can make a payment using the details below.

To join as a member please read and agree to the Site Use Policy below. Email us to join and you will be sent the online membership form to complete.

Payment details

Email us to join

Governance and management

Further information for members about how the organisation is governed and managed, such as a comprehensive Member’s Guide, the current committee members, our Governing document and how you can actively participate in how Meadow Orchard is run is available here:

Governance

Site Use Policy

Meadow Orchard relies on the generous good will of volunteers to keep running and for the site to be kept in a good condition. We always need help with upkeep and care of our large site and facilities. Members are asked to contribute towards this where possible, according to what you are able to give. There are no paid staff. Please give what you can, eg 10 minutes here or there or getting stuck in at a volunteer day.

Guidance on site and building use

Please respect the site, resources and built structures and leave them in a tidy condition.
Please manage waste responsibly being mindful of health and safety and volunteer welfare. Please take away all personal and site rubbish and recycling as there is currently no collection service. You can use the compost-bins or wormery for food waste. Plastic bags for rubbish are available and please bring spare bags from home.
Bulky site waste for disposal can be temporarily stored neatly in the area behind the toilet next to the school fence. Please do not leave waste next to the entrance gate to keep this area clear and pleasant for visitors.
Please do not leave or donate items to the site that do not have a needed use or cannot be stored easily. Please seek permission if you are unsure. If you do bring items that are approved please take responsibility for storing them safely and neatly.
Please help with tidying and cleaning shared spaces and clearing items for disposal so that we can keep the site welcoming and manageable for all to enjoy.
Clean and put away equipment and tools used, to the place where it came from. Please keep sheds and storage areas in an orderly state for other users.
Conserve water as much as possible as we rely on rain-water harvesting.
Respect the wildlife habitats, walk on pathways, avoid walking through the meadow grassland or disturbing ant-mounds.
Observe our ethos of organic gardening and environmental practices and avoid use of chemicals or unsustainable materials where possible.
Please seek permission before erecting any structures or large site development projects, by putting forward ideas/proposals using the project proposal form.
Always lock the gate, tool-shed, round-house and toilet when you leave. Please do not share the access codes so we can keep the site/resources secure.
Compost-toilet use. Please add a scoop of wood shavings/chips each time you use the toilet. Only toilet paper can be put in the compost toilet. Please do not put sanitary products in the toilet and take items away with you. If you are running an event or group please inform all participants how to use the toilet.
Open fires are only allowed with prior approval. We aim to reduce fires due to their impact on air quality and risks to habitats and safety. Please submit a request if you wish to use a fire for your event.
The cob-oven can be used for events for people who have been inducted in how to use it. Please ask for an induction on how to use the oven.
Dog-owners are asked to respect that the site is a nature reserve and food growing space, so please ensure that you dog is not causing damage to wildlife or planting beds. If your dog is causing disruption to activities or disturbing other site users dog-owners are asked to keep their dog on a lead. All dog waste must be removed from the site.

Health and Safety

Please read the following safety guidelines and make sure you are familiar with the risks and control measures prior to carrying out an activity.

Risk Assessment Log

We have published a list of the general risks on site along with the control measures in our Risk Assessment Log below:

Meadow Orchard Risk Log

Safety guidelines

Please take responsibility for your own and others safety and wellbeing when carrying out activities.
Please report any potential safety hazards that you see on the site or seek action to rectify them. We are all responsible for health and safety on site.
A well stocked first-aid kit is available in the green tool-shed and compost-toilet, plus a burns-kit in the compost toilet. Volunteers or group leaders are asked to record any incidents or near misses.
Fires must be small, kept to designated locations, attended at all times by a responsible adult, have water/sand available nearby and be fully extinguished before leaving. A fire-blanket and fire-bucket is available. Children must be supervised in close proximity to fires. In dry, windy, or high-risk conditions, a fire ban may be issued.
Only seasoned or kiln dried firewood must be burned. Avoid wood that is hazardous to health or that will cause smoke, including treated, painted or wet/green wood. Groups wanting to use firewood must take responsibility for sourcing firewood.
MOP cannot be held responsible for accident or injury resulting from dangerous or non-permitted activity, for example, climbing trees, use of machinery, working at height.
MOP holds public liability insurance for volunteering activity and public use of the site for permitted activities.
If you are running an event or activity please conduct a risk assessment and inform people of any safety considerations.

Using the site for an event

If you would like to use the site and facilities to run an event, workshop or group booking, please check out the information here:

Using the site and facilities