Future of organic garden secured

The garden at Garden Organic, Yalding. It’s been an uncertain couple of months for Garden Organic Yalding in Kent following the announcement in March that Garden Organic was to close the attraction because of a shortfall in operating budgets.

The garden, which is also an RHS Recommended Garden did not re-open after the winter break.

However Maro Foods, which operates a local food retail and vegetable box scheme in nearby Maidstone, has been chosen by the land owner, the Congelow Educational Trust, to take over the garden’s management. A 15-year lease has been agreed and most of the original garden staff have been retained.

As well as improvements to the shop and cafe, Maro Foods plans to develop the organic fruit, vegetable and flower garden and set up educational gardening and cookery courses. Staff from Maro Foods are already on-site preparting for it to re-open to the public on 24 May.

Garden Organic celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and has set up an appeal to help it meet the extra demands on its activities. Its garden at Ryton in Coventry remains open.