Now that warmer days are with us we are seeing new growth in the Garden and plan to add to this by planting out new greenery and shrubs in the next few weeks, including some purchased with donations made to Sunken Garden Society from people who love the space and all the memories that it holds. These include callistemon, also known as bottle brush tree due to the appearance of their long crimson flower spikes. They are a plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, so are perfectly suited to the Garden.
Plants are always chosen with care for the beautiful space on the clifftop at Westbrook, where they must withstand regular northeasterly, salt laden winds and a maritime microclimate. There is no mains water supply in the Garden, instead we rely on a tank, which means that whatever is planted needs nurturing whilst it sets down roots and becomes established within the planting scheme. The wonderful, dedicated volunteers make regular trips to the Garden to enable this to happen.
As we move into May, we have several events coming up. We’ll be back at Ellington Park May Fayre, in Ramsgate, on Sunday 17th May, 11.30am to 6.30pm, with our popular plant stall and seeds to take home and grow.
Later in the month, on Thursday 28th May, 11am to 3pm, we’ll be at Thrive After 50 – a community event at Hartsdown Academy, in Margate. The event is primarily aimed at the 50+ community, but there will be activities and information for all ages, recognising the big role that grandparents play in influencing family events and outings.
We regularly see families of 3 or 4 generations at Gardening Days, taking part together in seed sowing, wildlife monitoring or other activities in the Garden. The next date for this is Saturday 30th May, 10am to 12 noon, when there will also be a Hampton Hack workshop, giving guidance on pruning perennials to bring a second flush of growth and flowers.
We supply everything you’ll need at a Gardening Day, just dress ready to get a bit muddy and put on your sunscreen and hat, and come along to join a friendly, inclusive group of all ages who enjoy spending time outdoors and giving their time to keep the Sunken Garden looking fabulous. You don’t need to have any experience, there is always someone on hand to guide and help you.
Sunken Garden Society relies on donations from the public and organisations that recognise our contribution to the area. These come in a variety of forms, from financial contributions via our Crowdfunder and Thanet Lotto, to grants from larger organisations and donations of items. A current project that we are fund-raising for is to restore the stone-work in the ‘pools’. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone that gives, as it all makes a big difference to the Sunken Garden.
Join the Sunken Gardeners on the last Saturday of the month
