The Methven Community Board granted $2000 this week to help advertise a new arts and growers market in Methven.

The first market is this Sunday, 27 October, and the operators intend to open the market every fortnight until April next year. It will be situated at 34 Methven Chertsey Road.

The community board’s contribution will help promote the markets.

In her application to the board, organiser Jennifer Lalor said some of the stall holders were from Methven and the Ashburton district, and others from further afield, including Timaru, Amberley and Blenheim. The aim was to grow more Methven vendors.

She said a regular Sunday market would attract people to Methven outside of the ski season and have benefits for other Methven businesses. There would also be places for community groups.

The board approved $2000 from its discretionary fund be granted to the market organiser, on the proviso it be used for promotional and advertising purposes.

The Methven and Foothills Birdsong Initiative Trust was granted $9200 by the board to help pay for the development of a landscape concept plan for the birdsong project. The project aims to increase the native birdsong in Methven.

The concept plan will extend the Garden of Harmony as a bird-friendly, native plant sanctuary for community enjoyment and biodiversity education.

The board also granted $100 to Methven Primary School for its end-of-year prizegiving.

The community board has a total discretionary grant pool of $30,232 to distribute in 2024-25.