Enfield Council Donates Van to Capel Manor College’s Community Veg Bag Scheme
The College runs a popular community Veg Bag scheme, Enfield Veg. Co, that delivers fresh organic fruit and veg to residents across Enfield and Barnet. Most of the produce is grown at Forty Hall Farm by Capel Manor College’s staff, students and local volunteers. The College also runs the Farm, and it serves as an educational resource for students studying agriculture and horticulture.
Enfield Veg Co. has been providing residents with affordable, high-quality fruit and veg for over 10 years through weekly deliveries.
Unfortunately, the College’s delivery van was recently written off after someone collided with it. Determined to keep the Veg Bag service going, the College had to hire a van each week, however, as a registered charity this was putting a real strain on budgets.
Recognising the value of the Veg Bag scheme to the community, Cllr. Ergin Erbil, Leader of Enfield Council arranged for the local authority’s fleet service to kindly donate a replacement van to Capel Manor College to enable deliveries to continue without financial implications.
Earlier this month, Cllr. Erbil and Cllr. Jewell visited Capel Manor College’s Enfield Campus to see the van in action. They met with the College’s Principal Peter Brammall, Head Grower Matthew Robinson and Horticulture Lecturer David Riddle, along with students from his Horticulture (Level 3) class. The students have been working hard supporting Matthew’s growing team with pea shoot crops this year, and this produce has been included in all Veg Bags.
Cllr Rick Jewell, Cabinet Member for Transport and Waste at Enfield Council, said:
“When we heard about the unrepairable damage to Capel Manor College’s delivery van after a collision, we wanted to see if we could help.
“Having access to a working van is integral to the delivery of the college’s Veg Bag service in the local community. We were delighted to be able to donate a used van to the College, and to help get the Enfield Veg Co. team back on the road as quickly as possible.”
Peter Brammall, Principal at Capel Manor College said:
“It has been a pleasure to welcome our colleagues from Enfield Council. We are very grateful for their generous donation, the van is integral to the smooth running of our Veg Bag scheme within the local community. Capel Manor College remains committed to delivering and advancing green skills for people in and around London and we’re proud to be celebrating a record-breaking year of student enrolment and achievement. We’re a fully inclusive college and our doors are open for all those who want to join the green skills revolution and pursue their passion of working with green spaces, animals and the environment.”
Amanah joined the College after completing her A levels and is studying Horticulture (Level 3) and said:
“I’m really enjoying the practical elements of learning and working on the College grounds as where I live in East London, I don’t get to see much green space. My mum also studied here when she made a career change, so I knew that I wanted to study here to obtain the practical experience that underpins plant science. I’m planning on furthering my qualifications into plant science research at university.”
Jessica also joined the College after completing her A levels and is studying Horticulture (Level 3) after completing her A levels, she said:
“The course is very specialist and I’m really enjoying the practical elements and having lectures outside, it’s a very interesting way of learning. As a class we like to eat lunch in a different garden on campus each day which I appreciate. Once I complete my course at Capel Manor College, I will be moving onto university to study a horticulture degree.”
Capel Manor College’s Enfield Campus offers a variety of full and part-time courses in areas such as agriculture, arboriculture, animal management, dog grooming, floristry, horticulture and landscaping, garden design, and wildlife and environmental conservation. Find out more at the College’s upcoming Advice Evening on Thursday 27 November 2025.
