Chalkwell Kitchen Garden
In 2008, during the renovations at Chalkwell Hall, Ackroyd and Harvey suggested taking Metal’s association with food, and our green ambitions for our house in Southend on Sea, one step further by creating a Kitchen Garden in Chalkwell Park.
Working with Southend on Sea Borough Council parks team, and a team of community volunteers we have, in June 2009, planted our first vegetables on a plot adjacent to the house. The garden has four rotating beds, growing vegetables (root, brassica and legumes). The beautiful olive tree that drew the crowds at our Hampton Court Show Garden in 2008 has been planted as a centrepiece.
The Kitchen Garden was looked after by Metal, the parks team, and a group of willling volunteers who met regularly. Together they looked after the vegetables, herbs and flowers patches, sharing the produce thoughout the year.
The Kitchen Garden project helped to raise awareness of the issue of food miles, as well as contributed to keeping Metal’s low carbon footprint. It also provided us with a fantastic opportunity to work with neighbours – individuals and other businesses on the nurturing, harvesting and eating of any produce we managed to grow.
