The latest changes to the ‘official’ website introduce new charges for the gardens of £6.50 for standard adult admission, £6.00 for concessions, and free for under-15s. (Previously, £4.50, £3.50 and free for under 16s) However, in common with many other ‘attractions’, one ticket purchase now provides return admissions for a year. Admission to the shop and café remains free of charge.
Reposted from KentOnline (original post here)
H Wharmby – Saturday, January 03 2009
My children and I have many pleasant memories of the themed days at the Yalding Organic Gardens (now Yalding Organic Centre) – from fragrant Strawberry Fairs to ghoulish Pumpkin specials. It was a wonderful place to introduce children to sustainable growing. The gardens were well-maintained but robust enough for youngsters to tear around. We enjoyed the restaurant food, too – always affordable vegetarian options available that the staff were willing to adapt for special diets.
When we learned the Centre would be opening all year we were looking forward to seeing the site in Winter as it had always been shut before. I did wonder whether a farm shop could sustain the business during the off-peak season and my fears look justified: a chilly, dark restaurant that had increased the number of tables but decreased the customers (two other than our party of three) and a menu of chilled cooked pies and little else. The farm shop had a few baskets of veg and upright freezers filled with meat. There were some token beers, few snacks for children and an air of despair. We were unwilling to pay to go in the gardens on that occasion. The promise of a pleasant wholesome meal after a stroll might have swayed us. The cafe in Brockhill Park nr Hythe offers a good example of that.
My heart goes out to the current owners, who have taken on a site that should have been retained as a charity by Garden Organic. It’s a tough business: the location is poor for passing trade; locals will not buy groceries there when there is so little to tempt them; visitors look for an ’experience’ – garden-related books, tools and souvenirs (look at Leeds Castle or the Centre for Alternative Technology); a warm, inexpensive cafe or a unique slant on dining such as at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s ’River Cottage’.
In the somewhat bleak economic conditions, the business needs to rethink its emphasis and possibly cut its opening hours to, say, three consecutive days a week where veg in the shop will still look fresh on a once-a-week delivery. It could maybe team up with local organic veg box suppliers such as Harvest4U. It needs to have regular, well-advertised events but ensure that it delivers on those days.
There is still lots of goodwill towards the YOG – we haven’t given up on it yet – but that won’t bear repeated disappointments!
I really wish the current owners well and success in the venture.
