Friends of Markeaton Park, Community Walled Garden

Background

Friends of Markeaton Park are a community organisation working alongside Derby City Council to maintain and improve the popular 207-acre Markeaton Park. In October 2014 they were granted permission from the Council to manage a half-acre walled garden, once used for growing vegetables for Markeaton Hall, which had since fallen into disrepair. 

How did the Community Fund help?

Friends of Markeaton Park aimed to develop the site as a community walled garden and maintain the tradition and heritage of growing fruit, herbs, vegetables, cut flowers and other plants using environmentally friendly methods on site. After applying for funding from the Community Fund, Friends of Markeaton Park were awarded £300 to help get the project up and running.

Mel Bayes, Chair of Friends of Markeaton Park, said: "Thanks to the support received from the University's Community Fund we have been able to buy tools and other items to get our community walled garden project off the ground. We are now holding regular Sunday volunteer sessions to bring the garden back into a well maintained state. A number of University of Derby students are attending these sessions and the garden is already looking good."

Find out more:  FoMP website