A community allotment garden and wellness project in Southborough has benefited from £18,000 of National Lottery funding through its Community Fund.

The community allotment garden is at the Ridgewaye allotments and is aimed at helping people with additional needs.

The Lottery funding has allowed the site to be massively upgraded over the past six months. Raised beds and a fully accessible path have been built. And there’s now a composting toilet on site.

It’s the work of the Friends of Ridgewaye Allotments, led by Verity Timms (pictured below)

Verity Timms applied successfully for the Lottery Funding and – at an event on Sunday 22nd June 2025 – she thanked everyone involved.

Verity Timms said: “I’ve had an allotment here myself for over three years now. And every Tuesday, I’d walk through with my little dog and I would see a group here sitting on the allotments of special needs adults gardening.”

Verity continued: “The couple that ran that group – Mary and Ian – were in their eighties and finding it increasingly difficult to keep on top of the allotment – given that there were no facilities, no raised beds. Everything was really hard for them to do and keep up with. And over the years I started to think well – wouldn’t it be great if we could bring the garden up to a really good modern standard.”

From visiting other allotments in Kent, Verity heard about the potential for National Lottery funding. On learning her funding application was successful last December, Verity said: “I was over the moon…I couldn’t believe it. Everyone was staggered that we got it…so happy.”

A party held by allotment holders with minced pies was held last December (shown below) to celebrate the news that the £18,313 had been awarded in full.

You can watch Verity’s speech in June to thank everyone involved here:
https://youtu.be/R6zagfu5eqQ

Verity explained that the community allotment garden is aimed at Southborough residents with additional needs, mobility issues, mental health issues or who simply need a supported environment to be able to garden.

You can read more about this story on the West Kent Radio website or download the West Kent Radio app from the Apple App Store or the Google App Store to hear the 6 minute radio report.