Hope Farm Garden - Public Survey

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1. Hands of Hope @ Hope Farm Garden - supporting Rother, Hastings and West Kent
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Hands of Hope is a small, community charity, currently restoring & developing a neglected walled kitchen garden and 22 acres of AONB land in Hawkhurst containing an ancient Gill Woodland, 7 ponds, a small heritage orchard and 2 wildflower meadows - a place known as Hope Farm Garden.

Since 2019, we have been running community programmes aimed at tackling food poverty, rural isolation and loneliness as well as improving mental & physical health for communities throughout Rother, Hastings, & West Kent. Projects include Get Growing, Men in Sheds and Bee in Company. During COVID-19 we were able to create a productive organic market garden accruing over 1000 Volunteer hours as well as delivering tonnes of fresh produce to local food banks & families in need.

Substantial investment is now required to progress Hope Farm Garden to enable the provision of a richer and more diverse learning environment, including plans for a cook school, Seminar Room & Victorian Glass House as well as repurposing the dilapidated pump house into a heritage crafts training area. We aim to improve access roved access as well as the provision of visual interpretation educating communities on the site’s natural history and biodiversity.

Our aim is to support a thriving and inclusive community made up of Service Users, Volunteers, Service Providers, Corporate users, and commercial customers. Although provision will remain focused on improving the health and wellbeing of people and planet by tackling food poverty, rural isolation, and loneliness our key objective by the end of 2021 is to articulate our delivery across four main themes:
i) Horticulture
ii) Nature
iii) Heritage
iv) Food

Our four main areas of delivery are:
i) Training
ii) Education
iii) Therapy
iv) Community - “Growing Together - Building “Healthier” Communities.”

By completing and returning this survey your response will help us to ensure that we build our plans directly on local & regional needs and address the primary social and community issues that have been identified.

Thank you for completing this survey. Please watch our progress and stay connected through our website and our Facebook page.

The Hands of Hope Team

Website: www.hohcharity.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/Handsofhopecharity

1. Which town/village do you live in? *

2. What is your postcode? *

3. What do you consider to be the priority needs of your local community (please tick all that apply)? *

Access to free or affordable nature-based activities for children and young people
Opportunities and activities for those aged 60+ to improve their health and wellbeing
Bringing members of local communities together to create a sense of connection and neighbourliness
Support and specialist nature-based activities for those with poor mental or physical health
Greater access and understanding of natural and community heritage, including rural crafts training
Helping families with nutrition, cooking skills, improving health and obesity
Activities and support for those experiencing loneliness, isolation or who feel vulnerable
Support for residents facing food poverty
Other (please specify):

4. What do you consider to be the priority needs for yourself (please rank in order of importance - 1 is most important, 2 is second most important etc.)? *

A lack of nature-based & horticulture opportunities for children and young people
Isolation, loneliness and vulnerability
Health, wellbeing and self-care
Preservation of heritage & the natural environment
Loss of traditional skills amongst young people and the community e.g. hedge laying, coppicing, preserving & pickling etc
Cost of food, including fresh produce
Anti-social behaviour
Crime, policing and community safety

Other issues: