YALDING Gardens - formerly known as the Organic Gardens - has closed just 18


Can Gardens survive after closure?


months after being re-opened. Paul Smith, of nearby Loddington Farm,


had high hopes for the gardenswhen he took on the lease last spring. But the operation in Ben-


over Road has not been a commercial success and it was shut on October 13. The gardens' future is un-


clear but a new 'Friends' website has been launched - www.foyog.org - with the aim of taking the project forward. The website praises Mr


ing the gardens to "achieve its charitable aims, rather than sitting on the sidelines" - to partner, assistant and advise on the run- ning of the site. "If not,” say the Friends “then should the


THE Friends of Yalding Organic Garden state: “As has been demonstrated, it doesn’t matter how much enthusiasm, or how many hours of hard work you put into maintaining a wonderful gar- den, it cannot survive if you don’t get the visitors and the income. To achieve that, especially in the present financial climate, requires a multitude of skills and expertise, in many different areas.”


Smith and his team for res- cuing the gardens from decline and restor- ing them to their "former magnificence". About 20 years ago, local benefactors, Don-


ald and Pixie Cooper, donated 10 acres of land and funds in trust to develop an organic display garden. It was opened to the public in 1995 and Prince Charles performed the of- ficial unveiling the following year. The Friends are now calling on the Con- gelow Trust to take an active role in manag-


trust perhaps admit defeat and look for ways of transferring the site and its assets to another charity; or the unthinkable option of just re- verting the site back to a potato field? “Twenty years of hard-work, love and effort, gone!" In a statement


announcing the closure of the gardens and the Bushel Box café and farmshop, Mr Smith apologised for any inconvenience. "With our very best efforts we have made


great progress in restoring the gardens and have greatly appreciated all our local sup- port.


However, in spite of those efforts we have


been unable to make the site a commercial success," he added.


Maidstone Mayor Cllr Brian Mortimer talks to exhibitor Diane Sergeant from Maid- stone Visual Arts Network


Art showcased


at Town Hall PHOTOGRAPHERS, painters, musicians and others with a creative flair were at an art exhibition at the Town Hall. The event, which welcomed


art organisations and mem- bers of the business commu- nity to display their creative talents, was organised by Cllr David Pickett. He said: “I wanted to fly the flag for arts and culture in Maidstone. It is the first showcase we have put on, and hopefully we will do it again at a later date in a bigger area. “It is a chance for people to network together.” Twelve organisations at- tended, including Maidstone Youth Music Society, who per- formed songs. Local artist Graham Clarke opened the event with MaidstoneMayor Cllr Brian Mortimer.


Grammar results IN last month’s Downs Mail,we incorrectly stated that 11 stu- dents at Maidstone Grammar School for Boys had gained five or more A* grades in their GCSEs. The figure was, in fact, much higherwith 99 students gaining five or more A*s or As.


8 South


WORK has begun on building Maidstone United FC’s new home in James WhatmanWay. Over the next 10 months the former Army sports field, next to the River Medway, will be transformed into a 3,000-capac- ity ground, complete with an all-seater main stand, covered terraces, clubhouse, floodlights, changing rooms and parking. The £1.6m project, which is


being managed by Prime Build- ing Consultants of Maidstone, is expected to be completed by summer 2012, in time for a showpiece match against Peter- borough United during the first weekend in August. Co-owner Oliver Ash said: “It


is almost 12 months since Terry and I, alongside Bill Williams, took over Maidstone United, and what better way to mark that first anniversary than see-


SATURDAY afternoon and a few hundred people, many re- splendent in Maidstone United home shirts, walked the short route from the town centre to the club’s ground. Soon into the proceedings a


Cabin request formanager TAYTIMELtd has applied for retrospective consent to erect a log cabin as a dwelling for the manager of Monks Lakes, Staple- hurst Road, Marden. The 48.5ha fishery includes twopleasure


lakes, 2,000m of river bank along the Beult, four match lakes, with a total of 164 match pegs available, and a specimen lake. The applicant, who says the site attracts 20,000 visitors per year, added in planning documents: “Monks Lakes is well-estab- lished and needs active management. “The dwelling is designed as a modest


log cabin with a footprint of approximately 65 sqm.”Aseparate application from May last year, for the creation of lakes for recre- ational fishing remains undetermined by Maidstone Council, who will rule on the latest proposal.


Mobile home to stay CONSENTwas given for a mobile home to stay onWater Lane Farm, Four Oaks Road, Headcorn, until March 2015. It will be used to supervise a planned free range poultry unit.


Stones get their ground moving


Club owner Terry Casey (left) and BillWilliams (right) with Pat Gallagher, whose Aylesford-based construction company is one of the project’s contractors


ingwork start at WhatmanWay. “This is a really historic mo-


ment for the club and the town and in these current times will provide a major boost to the local community.”


 People can show their sup- port by donating a seat for the main stand or buying a brick, which will feature in a ‘Wall of Fame’ at the ground. Info: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk


Open day marks new era for club By Neil Nixon


noisy horn sounded, the home support responded with chants of “United, United” and, even- tually, everyone went home happy. What sounds like the perfect


site, and the £20,000 bill to re- house them in the nearby Vin- ters Park Nature Reserve is only one of the problems to beset the project. Sales of named bricks (£30)


day out at local football was, however, nothing of the sort. The occasion being celebrated was the start of work on the club’s new ground at James What- manWay. Formerly the home of the local garrison foot-


Supporters (left to right) Fred- erick Mcilveen, Richard Kerin and Corelle Bruce celebrate the historic open day


and seats (£50) were steady on the day, but club secretary Dar- ren Lovell’smain joy came from the presence of so many unfa- miliar faces. With average gates of 311 last season, the club need a massive increase in support to bring their financial plans on track. The


ball team and also once the site of a row of anti- aircraft guns protecting Maidstone’s factories, James WhatmanWay faces a race for completion in time for Football League inspection in April and pre-season friendlies in July. The discovery of protected slow worms on


open day, held in record-breaking temperatures for October, brought out crowds of the curious; many vowed to become paying supporters next season. “There are people here who’ve supported the


club all their lives and some of them thought they’d never see this,” Darren said. “If you look at what Dartford have achieved, and think about the potential of a town the size of Maidstone, there’s a lot to strive for.”


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


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