Seven years ago when the Beast from the East was battering the north Thanet coast, Peter
Hasted answered the call for volunteers to plant bee-friendly shrubs with Bumblebee
Conservation Trust and the first seed for the idea of formation of the Sunken Garden Society
was sown.
The Sunken Garden in Westbrook was created in 1932 as a result of the land being dug out to
create a railway embankment and Margate’s Optimistic Mayor Percy Osbourne seeing an
opportunity to create employment and a beautiful space from the spoils with Sidney Legg, Parks
Superintendent. By 1950 the Garden was in its heyday with summer bedding plants and
manicured lawns, making it a popular destination for Londoners visiting by paddlesteamer. In
the 1980s the Sunken Garden stood out as a horticultural asset, but by the 1990s it had fallen
into a state of disrepair and neglect.
Sunken Garden Society was established to galvanise volunteers to revive the Garden for future
generations and seven years on, this hidden gem of Thanet sees visitors of all ages, playing,
contemplating and enjoying the space.
One of the aims of the revival was to re-install benches in all the lower level bays and as we
celebrate seven years, this has been achieved with the final bench at this level being funded by
Thanet Community Lotto. Others have come with support of Rotary Club of Margate, Co-Op,
Southern Water, a Crowdfunder in collaboration with Margate NOW and as memorial benches.
On Monday 12th May we met with Nicola Wood, Community Development Officer for Thanet
District Council to present the bench to Thanet Community Lotto. We are grateful to Thanet
district Council and Nicola who have been supportive of the Sunken Garden both in sharing the
grant application information and also setting up Sunken Garden Society as a recipient for
incoming funds as a result of Lotto ticket purchases.
Peter Hasted says “To everyone that has given up their time and dedicated it to revive the
Sunken Garden – the once forgotten gem of Thanet – I am honoured to thank every single
one of you on behalf of the community.
“If you think something is worthwhile, you should at least give it your best shot, even if the
odds are stacked against you.”
You can find out more about the Sunken Gardeners at thesunkengarden.co.uk including how to
support the Garden by buying tickets from the Thanet Community Lotto and be in with a chance
of winning £25,000 while supporting a great cause.
