A big thank you to everyone that came to the Sunken Garden Eco Fair and contributed to the day – visitors, volunteers, speakers, national and local organisations, eco vendors, caterers, waste disposal and of course the press who helped us promote and share the event, it wouldn’t have been the day it was without you all.
After a careful weather watch, we found that we had, again, chosen a day without rain. It began cool and breezy, which is not unexpected for the cliff-top location and was very apt with Steve Edney of The No Name Nursery discussing drought tolerant and coastal planting. Tony Kirkham MBE VMH brought tales of adventures with trees encountered around the world during his 43 years at Kew Gardens, Arit Anderson from BBC Gardeners’ World shared insights on sustainable and peat free gardening and Charlie Harpur, Heed Gardener at Knepp Estate, shared the journey of rewilding the Walled Garden at Knepp Estate.
“We all thoroughly enjoyed it and the children had an amazing time:
🌱 Making bird feeders with Windmill Community Gardens Margate
🌱 Creating symmetrical gardens with Kent Gardens Trust
🌱 Kiddies’ axe throwing with the Scouts
🌱 Learning about crabs and more with Thanet Coast: NE Kent Marine Protected Area (thanks, Sam Bessant!)
🌱 Discovering how our hearts work with Community Lifesavers
🌱 Meeting the animals with Creepy Claws Animal Centre — always a hit!
“We also enjoyed visiting Margate Mushrooms, Thanet Beekeepers, and so many others! It was lovely catching up with Emma & Tristan from STAK.life CIC, Sam Cleanupuk Thanet, Paul Rutterford from 107.8 Academy FM Thanet, and of course our Mayor of Margate, Katie Pope. The weather was kind, the atmosphere was buzzing, and everyone was having a great time while learning something new. 🌞. 👏 Huge congratulations to all involved, an event run by amazing volunteers!” Visitor feedback
The talks were fully booked, with more visitors listening in at the rear of the marquee, plus the extended visitors (around 2,500) found much to discuss, buy and take part in with the seventeen workshops and activities around the Garden. From discussing invasive species with Forest Research and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) to seeing some of these in real life with Thanet Coast Project; chatting about birds and migration, steps to aid over-wintering, migrating and ground nesting birds with Bird Wise East Kent and RSPB, feeding the birds with delightful ceramic feeders by Little Egret Pottery; getting assistance with fixing bikes from the Bike Shed Mechanics, brought to Eco Fair by Thanet District Council with funding from Cycling UK; discovering how spaces are loved and maintained in our local area with Windmill Community Garden, Broadstairs Town Team and St Peter in Thanet Eco Church; designing a Victorian Garden With Kent Gardens Trusts, hand printing a bee design onto their own T-shirt with Molly Pickle, handling animals with Creepy Claws and the ever popular beautiful face-painting by Agnes of Canterbury Face Painter. It was a day for all ages – foraging walks with Doctor Forager brought new knowledge and Ramsgate Nordic Walking led a group around the area.
Academy FM were on hand to interview and record the day, you can hear the recording HERE and Ben Finch captured some fantastic photos and drone footage to look back on and enjoy.
1st Westgate-on-Sea Scout group and their leaders did sterling work, lending a hand to stall holders getting in and out of the Garden, as well as spending the day sharing soft archery and soft axe throwing activities, alongside Margate Rotary who helped put up the marquees and gazebos on loan for the day from Yoakley Care and Thanet Urban Forest. Decoration by Tina McHugh and Shirley beautifully emphasis the eco theme. A special thanks too, to Broadstairs & St Peters Town Council for the kind loan of their folding chairs and Christ Church for tables and being on standby for wet weather – thankfully not needed! We were sustained throughout the day by Crumb & Deli of Westgate-on-Sea and Real Deal Roasters.
We were honoured to once again to have the event opened by Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, Mrs Marian Boswall DL, a talented landscape architect with a deep interest in sustainability, who attended on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, His Majesty the King’s official representative in the County. She was joined during the day by other dignitaries, including Cllr Katie Pope, Mayor of Margate and Cllr Mike Gardner, Green Party representative and Mayor of Broadstairs, as well as Cllr Rick Everitt, Leader of Thanet District Council. And Cllr Rob Yates, who worked tirelessly helping out throughout the day.
The committee, Peter Hasted, Bev Aitken, Sue Finch and Andrew Miller spent many hours, along with event producer Jenny Duff, fund raising, organising and worrying about the weather! Thank you to all the funders – private donors who gave through Kent Community Foundation, plus Southern Water whose FOG & Unflushables team also spent the day sharing information and goodie bags.
We haven’t mentioned everyone by name this year, because the event has grown, but without everyone there, our friends from community groups across the Isle, it would not have been the fabulous day it was without all of you. Thank you.
You can find the full list of speakers and exhibitors at thesunkengarden.co.uk
“What a brilliant day at the Sunken Garden Society Eco Fair in Westgate-on-Sea! I was thrilled to meet the inspirational Nik from Get Wild— such a passionate advocate for wildlife and community engagement. The event was bursting with energy, ideas, and ecological enthusiasm. There was so much to explore and learn from an incredible lineup of exhibitors, including:
🦋 Butterfly Conservation
🌱 Kent Wildlife Trust
🐝 Thanet Beekeepers
🌼 No Name Nursery, Sandwich
🐝 Bumblebee Conservation
🌸 The Darling Buds of Wade
🍄 Margate Mushrooms.
“Huge congratulations to the Sunken Garden Society for hosting such a vibrant and impactful event — a true celebration of nature and community spirit!” Visitor feedback
