The Appleby Road Community Garden (ARCG) aims to provide children, young people and local community members in Kendal with education and training opportunities and a chance to grow fruit and veg. The project started in 2010 and works with a range of individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. The emphasis is on working and growing together.
The garden site is owned by The Queen Katherine School (QKS) (a large secondary school in Kendal, Cumbria) and is on an area of the wider school grounds. It has open access to users and visitors. We use organic gardening techniques and have an area of allotment plots, a small poly tunnel, a compost toilet, an orchard and forest garden, willow coppise, dry stone training wall, pond, communal tool shed and small yurt garden classroom.
The community involvement in the project is run by the ‘Friends of Appleby Rd Community Garden ’
A number of groups who use the site – Students from QKS (who work towards a City and Guilds Level 1 in Practical Horticultural Skills), Students from Sandgate special school, Individual plot holders who rent allotment plots, community groups, local nursery and local primary schools. We run seasonal workshops and training open to all. We also offer the space to members as a venue for children’s parties.