The Garden House Farm, Marple, is a non-profit community project relying solely on donations. It provides free entry to all so that they can come and enjoy the animals, the play areas, the woodland walk and the riverside café. The farm is used by families, educational establishments from across Greater Manchester and has an onsite nursery.

The project was set up by Kevin Swindells, who bought the land, that was previously used as a tip. After many hours and a great level of personal expense, Kevin has successfully built the project on the meadow area and now uses the old tip site as the car park. The site also hosts the remains of the Garden House, built by Samuel Oldknow in the 1700s, a celebrated local figure and the driving force behind the industrialisation in the local area.

In recent weeks, the Garden House Farm has faced closure after Stockport Council rejected two planning applications submitted, one of which was to return the remains of the Garden House to its former glory in the form of an exhibition centre. The applications waited for over two years for a final decision and as a result a site closure notice was issued.

The Garden House Farm received an outpouring of public support and obtained over 5,000 signatures on a petition to overturn the councils decision. As a result of this, Kevin Swindells felt assured that the community values the project as much as he does and has decided to launch an appeal against the decision.

The Garden House Farm is a non-profit organisation, with the appeal costs likely to exceed £20,000 if the case goes to public appeal, the 'Save The Garden House' appeal has been created to start funding the initial stages of the appeal process.

All funds will go towards keeping the farm open for the social, economical and environmental benefits that it provides to the surrounding communities.