1st Meeting Minutes of 2026

Minutes of the Lynsted Community Kitchen Garden Meeting

held on Saturday 10th January 2026 at 11:00

Those Present: Neil, Vanessa, Jacqui, Kelly, Jess, Callum, Clive, Dave, Gavin, Karen, Sue E, Ray, Michael, Emma, Linda, Tom, Ben, Annikki, Hilary, Caz.

 Apologies: Clare S, Robert, Helen, Paul, Sue S, John, Valentyna, Vasyl, Alison, Michele M, Michele CE, Kash, Beccy, Ilona, Geoff, Natalie, Lizzie, Zoe, Jake, Steve, Caireen, Brad, Jon, Janina

Neil welcomed everyone to the 20th meeting of the LCKG and welcomed new members who had joined in the last couple of months.

1.     There were no matters arising from the minutes of 23rd November 2025.

2.     Finance. At present we have £6429.00 in our bank account.  We have insurance and other monies totalling about £300 to come out of that balance in the near future.  A huge thank you to everyone who made a subs donation.

3.     Visit to Bore Place, Sevenoaks.  We were due to help set up a No Dig garden at Bore Place in Sevenoaks on Sunday 25thJanuary.  Unfortunately there were a few clashes on their part and so they asked to re-schedule.  The new date is Saturday 28th February 2026.  All those that expressed an interest to go in January have been emailed but if anyone else is interested in the new date, please let Jacqui know.  Timings are 10-1, lunch will be provided by Bore Place.

4.     Funding Opportunities.  The LCKG has two parallel, but separate, funding opportunities on the go over the next few weeks (both centred around the role that Nature (all aspects of the garden) can play in wellbeing). 

a.     Health and Nature Fund, which is managed by Nature’s Way to Wellbeing.  Alison and Vanessa have been involved with this.  Alison R has applied for the Level 3 Certificate in Nature based practice through LCKG and all being well this should support the grant application we will be making 

b.     The CrowdFund Kent by KCC Public Health managed by Spacehive is currently being looked into by a group of members at the garden. We will learn more about this over the coming weeks.

The other grants we will be applying for during 2026 are with Queensborough Fisheries and Kent Community Fund which will hopefully help with monies (if we are successful) towards our irrigation set up and a new improved Polytunnel.

5.     Event Coordinators.  Jess has offered to run a children’s activity session at the Open Day on Saturday 18th April with the help of the Young Ambassadors Sylvie, Abigail, Saffron and Penny (an email has been sent to the parents of the Young Ambassadors).  We were grateful for offers of event help from other members in November and will start to plan out ideas and logistics for future events – please get in touch if you have thoughts or can help Vanessa and Jacqui with any of the open mornings/events listed in

6.     Dates for 2026.  Please put them in you diaries.

-       Sat 18th April – Open Morning 10.30-12.30 and Meeting 1-2pm

-       Sun 28th June – Faversham Open Gardens Market Stall (in Faversham) 10-4

-       Sat 4th July – NGS Open Day 11-4.00

-       Wed 5th August – Members & Family Evening to Celebrate 5 years of LCKG 6-9pm

-       Sat 19th September – Open Day  10.30-3 (Mini Food Festival) and Meeting to follow
(although we may need to review as we have a longer than usual event)

-       Sat 21st November – Meeting only 11-12

7.     Number of Members Update.  The group current membership stands at 72 adults and 16 under 18’s.

8.     RHS Card.  Jacqui explained to the members that there is an RHS card in the folder on the dresser in the shed.  The card enables 50% off for two people attending selected RHS gardens.  Please sign the card out and in when you use it please.  You may want to check which gardens are eligible as unfortunately Chelsea Flower Show is NOT one of them!

9.     Weekly Coffee Ground Collection – Rodmersham.  The Group thanked Hilary continuing with this task. Steve W has also offered to share the load with Hilary and Caz is on standby if neither of them can carry out the weekly task.  A card of thanks will be sent to Rodmersham Coffee Shop for their lovely addition to our compost making.

10.  DIY Vineyard. Neil explained that the initial plans for the community vineyard and small commercial element (occupying other half of the LKCG field) have stalled. The consultants he had been working with pulled out due to their concerns with the UK’s oversupply of vines.  Neil has been looking at other models, ones that are purely community (non-commercial). Would probably involve anyone interested in the project putting a small amount of money towards a low tech (manual labour focused), DIY vineyard, starting with a small area at first. Jess asked what ground prep was needed, Neil will come back with more information. Soil tests have been done. Thank you to those who have registered their interest previously, but if anyone else is interested please let us know.

11.  Any Other Business.

a.     As raised at the last meeting, the Management Team have been looking to appoint an additional member to ensure the team supports the broad spectrum of interests and ideas held by the membership (and indeed our wider community). We are delighted to appoint Michael Leneghan.  Governance of the garden is extremely important as even though it is a relaxed and informal group, we have to maintain certain formalities within our Constituted Group. Having four meetings a year for all members and adhering to Health and Safety, Code of Conduct and Safeguarding measures are vital.

b.     Bees.  Callum was asked about a video which was shared recently on the Whatsapp group which used Poly (plastic) hives instead of wooden hives.  Callum explained that the plastic hives are very expensive and the bees generally don’t like them.  Also if there is disease within the Apiary (as there has been recently) we would need to burn the plastic hives rather than wooden which is not good for the environment.

c.     Callum asked about the Pond and the build up of leaves at the base.  Vanessa said she would contact Lyndsey (pond lady) to get some advice as to whether or not the leaves need to be removed.

The meeting finished at 11.30 and members enjoyed a hot drink and cake to warm up!

The next meeting will be on Saturday 18th April 2026 (after the Open Day) at 1pm-2pm.