North Devon children's gardening business secures new home at Arlington Court

Having been inspiring families to get growing across North Devon for the past 18 months, The Gardeners Co. CIC (formerly The Mini Gardeners Club CIC) are looking forward to working with Arlington Court National Trust to build a community-style garden in the calf linney at Home Farm.

The linhay within the wider farm, next to the main Arlington estate, will be transformed into a productive fruit and vegetable garden, microgreen and mushroom growing facility and cut flower garden where local residents will be able to take part in a wide variety of gardening, DIY and cookery workshops.

As part of their new venture, the duo have recently rebranded to The Gardeners Co., expanding their services to a wider demographic having primarily focused on primary ages up until now.

The community interest company is run by sisters Tatyana Keary Matthews and Shannon Keary (otherwise known as @diaryofaladygardener), who have been growing on an allotment in Braunton for the past five years combining their gardening, early years and marketing expertise to inspire the next generation of gardeners.

Shannon Keary commented: “I quit my corporate job almost a year and a half ago to pursue my love of gardening as a full-time career, and at the time I had no idea what was to come.

“Building this little business has been the most joyful (and often stressful) experience of my life and it has been so rewarding to share the magic of the garden with so many families at festivals, pop-ups and in schools this past year.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the wonderful team at Arlington Court who have supported our project since its infancy to show the versatility of spaces such as this and quite how productive they can be!”

Tatyana Matthews added: “If you had told me a few years ago we’d be running our own business, working with people and plants in the garden, I’d have laughed at you. But standing here now, looking back at what we’ve achieved so far with The Mini Gardeners Club, and what’s to come with the Gardeners Co, I’m just so proud and excited.

“Sharing the garden with so many wonderful people is a real privilege and one we hope to share with so many more in our own space at Home Farm.”

Dating back to the 1870s, Home Farm was in 2022 taken back into the control of the National Trust, with tenders accepted from a wide range of businesses to take on a number of farm buildings.

The aim of this site is to build a community of small local businesses that will thrive together and diversify the offering of the wider Arlington Court estate with The Gardeners Co. the first business to begin their set up from November 2023 ready to welcome workshop participants and visitors from January 2024.