The Pines Garden

Permculture projects for wildlife & food growing

An organically managed garden

This organically managed garden has a lake, poetry path and sustainability trail for children, as well as a grass labyrinth and organic kitchen gardens with over 40 different species of fruit and vegetables, from the exotic to the familiar.

Founded by ‘Flowering’ Fred Cleary in 1971, the garden contains many beautiful and unusual mature trees and shrubs including walnut, fig and pomegranate trees.

The Pines Garden uses both old and new models for sustainable land management and the garden has been run organically since 2002. This is far more than just not using herbicides and pesticides, with emphasis placed on working in harmony with the natural systems, composting, recycling and learning how to use natural predators to control pests.

An organic garden in winter

Winter Maintenance The gardeners and volunteers have got stuck into winter maintenance - clearing and pruning, path and border edging, deadheading, mulching, weeding, leaf collecting and composting. The last of the leaves on the trees have nearly all dropped...

Garen to Plate

The Garden and Tea Room are at the heart of our ‘garden-to-plate’ food project. Making use of the fruit, vegetables and salads grown by our gardeners and volunteers, the menu changes daily depending on what’s fresh from the garden. We compost all organic vegetable...

Growing organic veg in July

Cucumbers To keep your cucumbers sweet, remember to pinch off the male flowers. You can see the tiny baby cucumber at the base of female flowers so you should be able to easily tell the difference. Keep your cucumbers tied in and take off and burn any leaves...

Farewell to our Elms

Just before Christmas 2014 we received some bad news. The eight Elm trees in the Pines Garden had become infected with Dutch Elm Disease. Following consultation with the Tree Officer of Dover District Council we were instructed to remove all eight trees. At around 50...

Grass Labyrinth

The first labyrinth is believed to have been created some 3400 years ago in Knossos. Since then, many labyrinths have been created, used and known as places for spiritual practice. It is found among many cultures such as; Native American, Indian, African, Celtic,...

Volunteering

We have lots of permaculture projects lined up for the year ahead. If you would like to get involved, learn new skills or offer your own expertise do get in touch.

Volunteer

St Margaret’s Bay

Whilst visiting, take time out to explore the beach at St Margaret’s Bay and stroll up the magnificent cliff top with glorious vistas across the Channel to France.

Activities for children

A perfect place for children to explore the natural world, with specific features designed to engage young minds. There are paths for buggy and wheelchair access and lots of seating for visitors to enjoy the views.

Kids activites

Our eco-venue

This award winning, highly sustainable chalk building is a centre for training and events related to healthy and sustainable living. It is available to hire for conferences,
private functions and weddings.

Pines Calyx

Tea Room

Another award winner! Whilst you are here take a break in our Tea Room. During summer you can eat in the Yurt or outside on the steps. Excellent local produce and veg sourced from our own organic garden.

Tea Room