The University Campus Garden has stumbled along for several years now, originally starting as a student idea that won 3rd prize in a Mad Ideas student competition (which paid for fencing materials and tools).

At times students have taken it on and put considerable time and energy into it, at other times it has fallen into disrepair. More recently, there was an attempt to bring it into the student welfare agenda, renaming it the Oasis Garden, but student engagement was, once again, insufficient to achieve the critical mass necessary to gain the required momentum. Now it is such a sorry state that the Estates Department has, quite understandably, posited the idea of removing the eyesore and putting it back to turf.

As the person who has had some degree of continuous contact with the garden since its inception, I am convinced that the best way to guarantee its future will be to reconstitute it as staff allotments (the original use of the area). In this format, a section can be allocated for student use, looked after in their absence, and students will have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of the staff allotment holders.

I am convening a meeting at lunchtime (12.00-13.00 in the Swingland Room, Marlowe Building) on Wednesday 30 November for staff interested in taking on an allotment. Subsequently there would be a meeting at the garden to decide on next steps and workgroups to get stuck in (the original rabbit-proof fencing is missing in places and probably all needs replacing). I have also been approached by some 1st year undergraduates who want to start a student gardening society.

If you are interested do please come to the meeting, or email me.
Dr Ian Bride i.g.bride@kent.ac.uk