2nd Meeting Minutes of 2026

Minutes of the Lynsted Community Kitchen Garden Meeting

held on 18th April 2026 at 13:00 

Those Present: Neil, Vanessa, Jacqui, Kelly, Michael, Linda, Jon, Caz, Helen, Aga, Gavin, Karen,

Sue, Ray, Vicky, Alison, Christina, Chris, Jackie, Michele CE, Michele M, Annikki, Callum, Jess, Cass,

Sylvie, Brad, Caireen, Annabel, Clive, Zoe

Apologies: Sarah, Judith, Carol, Sandra, Clare S, Emma, Abigail, Saffron, Janina, Sue S, John,

Natalie, Claire W, Dave, Hilary, Tom, Kash, Lil, Steve

1. Neil welcomed everyone to the 21st meeting of the Kitchen Garden and to our new members
   Sarah, Yasmin and Vicky.

2. There were no matters arising from the minutes of 10th January 202

3. Finance/Funding – Vanessa recently attended a Funding for all Conference. She met a lot

of people at the Conference who were encouraging us to become a Charity as they said there

are far more opportunities for grants to be available for a Charity status. This was discussed

with the volunteers and there were no objections. It would not make any different to the day to

day running of the garden but maybe a bit more work for the Management team. Vanessa

explained that she had made an application for a Health and Nature Fund funding bid,

supported by Kent County Council Public Health and managed via Explore Kent, LCKG has

put a funding bid together for £5,431 for nature-based interventions boosting mental health

and wellbeing. Alison Rayner (in conjunction with LCKG) applied for and got accepted on a

highly competitive accredited Level 3 certificate course in Nature-based practice that is

specifically linked to this Health and Nature Fund. Well done. Alison will be using the

community garden to host/deliver nature based wellbeing sessions - more on that from her.

The focus will be on mental/physical health, connecting people with nature. Since the

meeting we have been offered £1,000 which was 1/5th of what we originally applied for

and there is certain criteria attached to this grant. More to be set out in the near future.

4. Health and Nature: Alison explained that she is going to be offering wellbeing

mornings/afternoons to garden members and then expand out from there in the future. She

explained that she will be putting the gardening to one side and concentrating on other

activities such as Yoga, Weaving, Photography etc with the help of other garden members. It

will be all about sharing a space in the garden. Alison said that she is limited to help with

garden activities because of some health issues, but still wishes to be part of the garden

community. More details can be found on the documents that were sent out with the Agenda.

5. Wider background events:

a) Bore Place – Sue E explained that a group of us were really honoured to be asked to go

and help Bore Place, Sevenoaks set up their no dig community garden space. Thanks to

Annikki, Ray, Sue, Linda, Jacqui, Clive, Kelly, Callum and Vanessa for going on 28th February

2026. A huge moment for LCKG as recognition of how far we have come in 5 years that we

are being used as ‘consultants’ to advise on community garden set up and the no dig

approach. The community garden space at Bore Place was much more challenging and we

were extremely grateful when we reflected that our garden at Lynsted was completely flat!

Jess said that Bore Place also offered lots of other volunteering activities as well as their

community garden. We also received £200 as a token of their gratitude and a delicious lunch

on the day.

b) Nonington Farms have been very supportive of LCKG following a visit to us here in

February. Emma from Nonington Farms spoke about us at the University of Reading in the

context of what we are doing towards agro-ecological food production and biodiversity.c) Service of thanksgiving for volunteers at Rochester Cathedral on Thursday 12th

March of which Vanessa attended on behalf of LCKG. Service was hosted by Lady Colgrain,

Lord Lieutenant of Kent and Jonathan Neame, High Sheriff of Kent, to celebrate the work that

is done in Kent by volunteers. Amazing projects ranged from helping ex-offenders,

bereavement, homeless, victims of domestic abuse right through to those aiding biodiversity,

and access to affordable ‘good food’

. It was humbling to be part of this.

d) Big Green Week – (not discussed at meeting) – Newnham Church want to do a big

display of all the groups/organisations locally who are doing sustainable and eco-friendly.

They have asked us to put together a few photos and information about our Community

Garden.

6. Biodiversity – GOLD award from Wilder Kent. Michele CE explained that herself and

Vanessa went to the award ceremony in Ramsgate to collect the award. Michele said it was

very interesting speaking to lots of other organisations about their projects. Thanks to all

those who helped with the wildlife pond, owl box, bug hotels and hedgehog homes, and to the

Bee Group as I think the Pond and our Bee work were notable strengths for us within the

2025-26 application.

7. Bee Group – Update and Expenditure – Callum explained that the bees had survived the

winter. They are waiting for the bee inspector to visit to give the all clear that the virus we had

last year, European Fowlbrood, is not still present. At present we have 3 hives but we maybe

able to increase to 6. The bees have started filling all the supers and therefore we maybe

able to have two extractions of honey as last year. With regard to expenditure, some stands

had been bought which are metal with timber so therefore will be much more robust. They

will be making more super frames but after the inspection in early May.

8. Herb Garden –

a. Dome Repairs – The Dome unfortunately came apart in the very windy weather on

12th March, a team dismantled it for safety. Vanessa explained that we have now

sourced a scaffolding tower so that it can be re-built. The main struts are hazel and

are still solid so therefore a case of re-weaving willow around the structure. Chris

asked if we could have a living structure but it was explained that it would take too

much moisture out of the herb garden. We have had an offer of willow from a local

farmer so hopefully it will not take too long to re-build with a team of volunteers from

the garden.

b. RBGE Physic Bed: Vicky outlined at the meeting her plans for a section of the herb

garden which forms part of her 2 year Herbology Diploma at the Royal Botantic

Garden Edinburgh. These plans are attached to the minutes. We welcomed Vicky to

the garden and are excited to see the progress of her work. This all ties in nicely with

Alison’s plans too.

9. New Meeting Date – Sunday 24th August at 11.00am. This will replace the meeting that

was originally planned for after the Open Day on 19th September.

10. Any Other Business :

a. Jess asked if we should have some terracotta dog bowls, particularly at Open Days.

It was agreed to source some.

b. Vanessa wanted to thank the Medway Volunteer Workshop for some reconditioned

tools that had been donated to us. Some members were kind to donate sewing

machines and other tools and in return Vanessa chose some useful tools for the

garden.

c. A HUGE thank you went to Aga for the wonderful Café spread and all the other

volunteers that made cakes and salads. The total money raised from the café on the

day was £388.10. The plant stall raised £117, so total raised for the morning was

£505.10. Also a big thank you to Jess and Emma for the children’s activities which

were really well received.

d. Kelly mentioned for the future that the garden could run experience days. Also Helen

thought a recipe book would be an idea which we could sell to the public.

11. There being no other business the meeting finished at 13:45.