Celebrating its ten-year anniversary, the Bob Fowler Community Allotment has been nominated for the next stage of the Green Flag Award 2024. And to support the actions in our new biodiversity pathway to 2030.
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the world.
The project launched in 2013, after an Amicus Horizon employee, Bob Fowler, transformed the area from a historical fly-tipping site, into a tranquil area that the local community could enjoy.
Local people, children from nearby nurseries and schools, and residents from our independent living scheme have all benefitted from the community allotment. It’s enabled them to learn lots of new skills including gardening and growing fruit and vegetables.
Bob worked alongside Swale Borough Council, Skillnet and Kent County Council to bring the project to fruition. Sadly, Bob passed away in 2012, before he could see his dream come true, and so the site was named in his honour.
Amicus Horizon has now evolved into Southern Housing and the company continues to offer a huge amount of support to the project.
The site has a number of established fruit trees and is bordered with native species. It also offers a composting toilet, a summer house, a poly tunnel, water butts and water features, and is entirely free of any herbicides and pesticides.
There are currently 15 plots alongside dedicated wilding and flowering areas and raised beds and herb areas. Two of the plots have been reserved for mentoring purposes to assist with local support services and schools.