The Green Patch in Kettering has recorded its busiest summer to date, with visitor numbers up around 20% year on year after a string of record-breaking events.

The 2.5-acre award-winning community garden is run by local charity Groundwork Northamptonshire and hosts everything from after school clubs and volunteer days to a year-round programmes for children, young people and local residents.

More than 550 people attended the opening of the new Naturally Connected meadow in July – the garden’s highest-ever turnout for a single event. The meadow also opened as part of a National Garden Scheme day a few days later.

May’s annual plant sale raised more than £1,800, its highest total to date. August’s Youthfest also attracted record attendance, while more than 50 people joined a citizen-science butterfly count to identify species across the site.

The Green Patch has continued its regular community litter picks throughout the summer. Volunteers have also completed a baseline survey of the garden’s plants, wildlife and insect life, which will be repeated quarterly to monitor how its habitats develop.

Kate Williams, Chief Executive of Groundwork Northamptonshire, said: “It has been a fantastic summer at The Green Patch, and it’s brilliant to see so many people coming through our gates to take part in everything from the meadow opening to our citizen science days. Every visit, whether it’s a family at the plant sale or a volunteer counting butterflies, helps us understand more about the site and the difference it’s making to the people and wildlife that use it.”

The increase in visitors has been supported by National Lottery funding through the Go Greener @ The Green Patch project, enabling Groundwork Northamptonshire to invest in the site, recruit new staff and volunteers, and open the garden more frequently, including at weekends.

Nathan Wearn-Hutter, Environmental Programmes Manager at Groundwork Northamptonshire, added: “The National Lottery funding has made a real difference to what we’re able to offer at The Green Patch. It means we can open the site more often, run more events, and give more people the chance to get involved, whether that’s through volunteering, community events or simply visiting the garden. We’ve got plenty more planned over the autumn and winter, and we’d encourage anyone who hasn’t visited yet to come along.”

The Green Patch has a busy programme ahead, including Nigel’s Big Litter Pick on 19th September, a Healthy Schools event on 26th September, a Halloween event planned for 31st October, and a Christmas event and produce sale on 28th November. Its annual Big Bird Watch returns in January.

Find out more at: www.groundwork.org.uk/northamptonshire/the-green-patch/