Sponsoring The Medicine Garden

Five minutes walk from the centre of Cobham village, The Medicine Garden is an innovative project that aims to:

rebuild and re-energise a Victorian walled kitchen garden as a 21st century destination zone for the local community – including a landscaped garden, café and garden shop

develop a seasonal garden that inspires all who visit

establish a vibrant community of small businesses to help make the whole project a sustainable and exciting place to work.

We spent three years clearing the site and sensitively restoring the buildings and garden so we could begin to breathe new life back into this beautiful and historic venue. We took the risk of opening in 2010 with a soft launch and received a generous and extremely supportive reception from the local community. With a rapidly growing number of regulars who love to spend time in the garden, we continue to be excited about 2011 and beyond. Visitors let the children play, meet over coffee and cake or buy some ‘good medicine’ for their garden in our garden shop. Our brand seems to be growing fast both through word of mouth and through our events.

This year we intend to reveal more of The Medicine Garden concept and to continue to make the site a destination of choice for families and friends, through all seasons.

While the project grows in scale and reputation we still need to invest in ongoing restoration work, as well as developing the site as a fantastic place for people to enjoy. We are therefore looking to engage locally based businesses to sponsor and/or help fund this important project to ensure it has a lasting place in the community for generations to come.

There are three different ways in which organisations can sponsor The Medicine Garden:

1. Sponsor a zone or direction in the main garden.

2. Sponsor a specific restoration or equipment priority.

3. A general contribution to support the overall venture.

The main garden design is based on an eight-pointed compass or wheel design. Each direction of the wheel reveals a piece of ‘good medicine’ to raise our awareness of, deepen our understanding of and bring more fully into our lives and our work. They are:

Inspiration, Stillness, Wonder, Story, Nourishment, Rhythm, Courage and Vitality.

Organisations can therefore sponsor one or more directions to help support the design and development of the main garden itself. These directions might link to the brand values, characteristics and attributes of your organisation or product portfolios.

1. The eight directions of The Medicine Garden

Story

Nourishment Rhythm

Courage

Vitality

InspirationStillness

Wonder

Annual sponsorship is £8,000 for each direction. For this you will get your company (or product) logo in the main garden, on the main sponsors information boards, on our website and on our main promotional materials. Visitors will then associate your logo with our innovative venture and to specific human values and qualities – every time they visit! You will of course also be a part of helping to restore this valuable venue as a resource for the local community.

This sponsorship will make a real difference. It will help us to manage the upkeep and evolution of the walled garden itself – which is a full-time project.

We are also passionate about restoring critical parts of the site. These include:

the original glasshouses – so we can resite the Café

the ongoing maintenance of the garden walls – for health and safety

and ultimately the original and impressive Vinehouse – along the south facing wall.

We are also seeking support for:

various outdoor furniture and seating areas

play equipment for the children

other creative installations such as water features, garden lighting and sculpture.

2. Restoration and equipment priorities

Companies can sponsor these priorities in part or whole. In exchange we will promote those organisations that have contributed at all key information points, on our website and on all of our promotional material. This includes newsletters, our social networking sites and where possible through the press coverage we intend to attract. We could also negotiate discounts for using The Medicine Garden for events and gatherings.

We have already generated sponsorship for: garden decking from Challenge Fencing, Stovehouse restoration from a private individual, much of the landscaping from Mimosa Landscapes and graphic design work from topright design.

Artist’s impression of proposed refurbished Hothouse

Outdoor seating areas

The original Vinehouse

3. Supporting the overall venture

We also welcome organisations that would like to sponsor the entire project and be associated with its ongoing growth and success. There are many ways in which we could exchange value and reflect the nature of various contributions.

[Photos]

We have already built up a strong, ever-growing body of local support for the garden. Visitors move through and around the various outlets and experiences and choose which pieces of ‘good medicine’ to take away with them, e.g., inspiration, good food, memories, meeting friends and family or learning new skills.

Our visitors return on a regular basis during the week as they find the garden a great place to meet, be inspired, be still and be together. On the weekends it offers a place where the kids can roam freely and safely and is a wonderful place where you can soak up the atmosphere and ambience.

In conclusion

There have already been three public events within the first six months – an End of Summer Garden Party, a Halloween Party and a Christmas Fair. We had over 600 people at each of these events – all of whom loved the experience. This is just the beginning!

We are very excited about moving into the next phase of this project and look forward to exploring how your company could get involved.

How are we structured?

The Medicine Garden Foundation

Our not-for-profit company is dedicated to restoring and maintaining both the fabric of the site and the main garden for generations to come.

We aim over time to bring back the key features of the original garden and courtyard as well as to carry out important repairs to the structure and infrastructure of the site. All monies raised through sponsorship, grants and donations go into the Foundation fund.

The Foundation ensures that the site maintains its integrity and keeps a healthy and viable balance between the commercial and community dimensions of the project. We are also looking to develop educational initiatives around the garden.

The Medicine Garden is managed through two registered companies: The Medicine Garden Foundation (a limited by guarantee organisation); and The Medicine Garden Cobham Ltd.

The Medicine Garden Cobham Ltd

In order to make the project a viable and sustainable destination zone, we have established a community of small businesses in the courtyard – including our own garden shop. This provides income through rent and retail in addition to the hiring out of the main garden for weddings, functions and other gatherings.

Interested?

Contact Paul Studholme

paul@themedicinegarden.com07774 259 57001932 589 536

www.themedicinegarden.com

The Medicine Garden, Downside Road, Cobham. Surrey KT11 3LU