Kingsbridge Community Garden - Kingsbridge

The Kingsbridge Community Garden is in the centre of town and for the last 4 years has been essentially self-funding. They have no membership fee but if you wish to contribute you can become a Friend of the garden.

All the photos here were taken in February 2011 - HogCO plan to return in summer when it will be a delight to see!

View from the garden - February 2011

It is now run entirely by volunteers, although they used to employ a horticulturist.

 Soft fruit cage - February 2011

The garden runs on organic principles and makes money by selling pick-your-own salad bags and running an open day once a year that sells plants potted up from the garden. At other times of year there may be soft fruit and other vegetables for sale. Volunteers who work in the garden are not expected to pay full price but to decide for themselves what discount they feel is reasonable.

 

 Polytunnels for propagation and winter salad crops - February 2011

The garden is on quite a steep slope and much of it has been terraced to make gardening more practical.

One of their members is an excellent carpenter and has built this wonderful protection for their peach tree. This is primarily used in winter to protect against the Peach Leaf Curl fungus which is spread by raindrops when it is wet and cold.

The garden has been made very attractive and accessible because there are lots of places to sit and relax.

An old tree stump has been made into a seat

They also have excellent signs and plant labels.

As well as vegetable growing there are many fruit trees and ornamental plantings.

 

 Beetle Hotel and explanatory sign

The garden also has dedicated space for wildlife and they promote biodiversity as part of their pest management strategy.

They have built a low-tech composting toilet which looks almost too good to use!

They collect rainwater from the house above and pipe it to tanks at the top of the community garden.

Rainwater is piped to holding tanks above the vegetable garden.

They have clear guidelines for behaviour at the garden and emergency procedures that are clearly displayed at all times.

They have had some problems with their money collection boxes but are now using the National Trust Design and it seems to be working well.

Honesty box at the garden entrance