NEHK Community Garden Use Policy
1. Purpose
The NEHK Community Garden exists to promote community wellbeing, outdoor recreation, environmental education, gardening, cultural exchange, family and social activities, and personal wellbeing. The garden is provided as a community leisure facility. Any booking contribution is intended solely to help recover the costs of maintaining and improving the garden and its facilities, including maintenance, insurance, equipment, furniture, utilities and administration. The garden is not operated as a commercial venue.
2. Objectives
• Encourage community engagement.
• Improve physical and mental wellbeing.
• Provide a safe outdoor meeting place.
• Encourage gardening and environmental awareness.
• Strengthen social connections.
• Promote responsible use of allotment gardens.
3. Permitted Uses
Family gatherings, BBQs, community networking, board games, reading, gardening workshops, nature appreciation, cultural exchange and personal retreats.
Maximum attendance: 15 people.
4. Activities Not Permitted
Commercial events, weddings, corporate events, live bands, DJs, amplified music, fireworks and activities causing nuisance to neighbouring plot holders.
5. Eligibility
Bookings are open to NEHK Members, community organisations, families, individuals and other persons approved by NEHK. All users must agree to comply with this policy.
6. Booking Contributions
Summer (11am–5pm): Non-Members £50; Collaborate Members £20; Ordinary Members £10.
Winter (10am–2pm): Non-Members £25; Collaborate Members £10; Ordinary Members £5.
Bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance. Booking contributions support the upkeep of the community garden and are not intended to generate commercial profit.
7. Visitor Responsibilities
Respect neighbouring allotment holders; keep noise to a minimum; follow instructions from NEHK volunteers and staffs; leave the garden clean and tidy; take all rubbish away; respect plants, trees and wildlife; supervise children; keep dogs on leads and clean up after them.
8. BBQ and Fire Safety
BBQs are permitted only in designated areas under adult supervision using suitable equipment. Open fires are prohibited except where expressly authorised by NEHK and permitted under the applicable allotment rules and lease. Keep water nearby and extinguish BBQs before leaving.
9. Environmental Protection
Protect wildlife, avoid damaging plants, conserve water, recycle where possible and avoid unnecessary waste.
10. Health and Safety
Visitors use the garden at their own risk. Parents and guardians remain responsible for children. NEHK may stop any activity considered unsafe.
11. Damage
The person making the booking is responsible for damage caused by guests, additional cleaning and replacement of damaged equipment.
12. Cancellation
NEHK may cancel or end a booking due to severe weather, maintenance works, safety concerns or breaches of this policy.
13. Refusal of Future Bookings
NEHK may refuse future bookings where users repeatedly breach this policy, cause damage, disturb neighbours, leave excessive rubbish or behave in an abusive or unsafe manner.
14. Liability
NEHK accepts no responsibility for loss of personal belongings, injury resulting from misuse of facilities or weather-related disruption, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
15. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually by the NEHK Board or sooner if required by changes to the allotment rules or lease.
