Let's Raise the Roof and Grow Together

Let's Raise the Roof and Grow Together

We need £10K to give the Greenhouse its future

We are fundraising to restore Hastings' unique 1930s Greenhouse in Alexandra Park to make it a functional and vibrant place for the whole community.

Why Restore the Greenhouse Now?

The greenhouse is becoming very vulnerable.
Thirty years without glazing has taken its toll.

But it’s not given up yet and neither have we!

This is a lovely teak and cast-iron architectural structure which shares its history with that of Hastings and is remembered with great affection by many residents. First as a prestigious horticultural hothouse, then a centre for the communal 'Dig for Victory' during World War 2.

It became Pets Corner in the 1960s and was known as The Albert house with a Statue of Prince Albert at its centre.

The greenhouse gradually fell into disrepair until revived by the enthusiastic volunteers who rediscovered it in and decided to make it bloom.

A wonderful seed has been sown

Originally we had the uphill task of raising £200K to fully restore our greenhouse. 

A member of the community, impressed with our progress so far, has pledged a considerable amount of funding which will pay for:

• The teak frame and all 96 glazing bars
• The upper and lower ventilation window frames and gable ends
• All the toughed glass
• Repairs to the cast-iron, downpipes and internal staging

This Crowdfunding Appeal is to raise at least £10K to provide:

• lighting and power so the  greenhouse can be open all year
• repointing the aging brickwork to give us a solid foundation
• a perimeter fence and emergency gate for safety and security and improvements to the floors and interior

One of our rewards: this natural cotton shoulder bag in return for your pledge

Our Achievements So Far

In 2013 a group of volunteers, led by the park ranger, entered the greenhouse and began clearing the jungle and rubbish inside.  

Since then we have not been idle. Volunteers brought plants, laid floors and donated sheds and gardening equipment. Hastings Council repaired water pipes and drains and idverde (Alexandra Park's grounds maintenance and landscape company) provided the water supply, donated plants, manpower and expertise.

In 2018 Alexandra Park Greenhouse Group became a charity and Hastings Borough Council granted a 25 year lease on the greenhouse which gives us security until 2045.

Thanks to early and generous donations of over £25K the building is temporarily watertight, the upper ventilation system has been restored, electricity brought to the site and the brick. 

The greenhouse is now the best we can make it without outside help. 

We need public support to develop the greenhouse as a valued resource for the whole community and attract interested visitors from further afield.

With all that has happened in 2020 people are valuing nature and the outdoors more than ever. Alexandra Park and its wildlife give great pleasure to many and the greenhouse can play a nurturing role in our community with its emphasis on growing and cultivating plants and highlighting green issues in general.

The space already has much to offer. We have hosted many successful events including a Chelsea Fringe, horticultural talks, seasonal art and craft and the annual Heritage Open Day. Plant and seed swaps are popular with allotment holders and gardeners young and old.

Everyone is very welcome to visit us on Saturdays and Wednesdays to look at our displays, buy some plants and share our vision for the greenhouse revival.

Our Green Future 

This space will also be available for community use, horticultural exhibitions, small concerts and social gatherings 12 months of the year.  

The rest of the building will be a working greenhouse to give gardening experience, a peaceful and inspiring place to enjoy and a vibrant horticultural and educational facility.

Our volunteers will continue to work at the greenhouse, give advice, grow plants for sale and organise gardening talks and demonstrations in the glazed section. 

Help us raise £10K or more and Grow Together as a Community

For more information about APGG, its history and supporters

please visit our website at our-greenhouse.org 

or email [email protected]