Would you like to meet other people, do something useful and creative, take exercise at your own pace in the fresh air, share your skills and learn new ones, enjoy produce you’ve grown yourself…? Community gardens and conservation projects are run by volunteers to offer local people the opportunity to come together to enjoy the physical and psychological benefits of working outdoors with other people and doing something productive. Find an outdoor volunteering opportunity somewhere near you in Kingston to visit and have a go (but check their websites or Facebook pages for updates before you set out).
COMMUNITY GARDENS in Kingston
CENTRAL KINGSTON
Hogsmill Community Garden
Swan Path, alongside the Hogsmill River
Open for wild-life-friendly gardening – all welcome, wheelchair access. See facebook.com/hogsmillcommunitygarden.
All Saints Gardeners
All Saints Church Kingston, Market Place, KT1
Saturdays, 10.00 - 11.00am, contact: brian.cornick@waitrose.com
NORTH KINGSTON
Canbury Community Garden
Former gardeners’ yard, next to Canbury Gardens, KT2 5AJ.
Regular wild-life-friendly weekend gardening sessions, all welcome. See facebook.com/groups/canburycommunitygarden .
Parkfields Community Garden
Parkfields Allotments, Parkfields Road, KT2 5LL
Volunteer sessions on Thursdays, 2.00 – 5.00pm
Observe nature, share skills, grow food and play outdoors – children welcome. See facebook.com/parkfieldsgarden. Contact: parkfieldsgarden@gmail.com
NEW MALDEN
Kingston Environment Centre
1 Kingston Road KT3 3PE 020 8942 5251
Volunteers welcome to help in KEC’s backyard garden on Wednesday mornings. See kingstoneco.org.uk/ or facebook.com/groups/32748919218.
The New Malden Gardening Task Force also meets at the Environment Centre on Fridays at 3.00pm. See https://www.facebook.com/newmaldentaskforce.
SOUTH OF THE BOROUGH
Tolworth Station Community Garden (The Cutting)
Tolworth Station, KT5 9NX
The Community Brain is creating a herb and wildlife garden behind Baking Ideas, our new community hub and kitchen at Tolworth Station. The Cutting will encourage biodiversity, give residents access to a safe outdoor meeting place and also allow people to take cuttings from herbs and other plants. Volunteering days Every Tuesday (10:30am -12:30pm) and the first Sunday of the month (11am - 2pm) Website www.thecommunitybrain.org/the-cutting. Contact georgia@thecommunitybrain.org
Kingston Permaculture Reserve
Knollmead Allotments, behind Knollmead Primary School, Tolworth KT5 9QP
Some Sunday afternoons - group gardening with soup over the fire. See www.kpr2016.wordpress.com or facebook.com/groups/364895080405.
Kingston Orchard Project
Knollmead Allotments Tolworth, KT5 9QP
Some Sunday afternoons. See facebook.com/KingstonOrchardProject,
CONSERVATION and WILDING
Surbiton Wildlife Group
Volunteering in Surbiton green spaces. See facebook.com/SurbitonWildlifeGroup.
Kingston Cemetery Nature Group
Main entrance, Bonner Hill Road KT1 3EZ
Conservation workdays on 3rd Saturday every month. See facebook.com/KingstonBiodiversityNetwork.
Also https://habitatsandheritage.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/