We are the Sunken Garden Society!
We are dedicated volunteers all with the same passion of wanting to restore the Sunken Gardens in Margate to their former glory in a natural and sustainable way.
We urgently need your help!
As a small group with limited funds, we really need your help to finance our major projects and to keep our monthly volunteer task days going. Since 2018 we have received support from Margate Rotary clubs, Co-operative Society (Westgate), Margate Mayor and Thanet District Council. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust have provided pollinator friendly plants and the local community often donate tools.
Small volunteer groups like ourselves do not have access to funds for major projects and this is where your help is needed. Please pledge what you can to help us achieve our aims and help us Restore the Sunken Garden!
Project aims
- Restore the broken stone edging around the sunken grass 'pools'
- Replace missing benches on the lower tier
Project details
Since its creation in the 1930s the Sunken Garden was a popular and well-kept visitor attraction. During the 1990s, council cuts meant the gardens could not be managed as they had once been and they entered a period of neglect. Shrubs became overgrown and the flower beds were bare. Littering and anti-social behaviour became issues for this once well-loved and cared-for space.
Over the last 30+ years the stonework around the sunken grass 'pools' in the garden has suffered vandalism and wear and tear. 
Original benches have been removed and not replaced leaving only a few seats from which to enjoy this peaceful green space. Please pledge what you can to help us achieve our aims and help us Restore the Sunken Garden!
NEW - FREE SUNKEN SUNFLOWER SEEDS
We are now giving away Sunflower seeds.
Please do plant them and lets all brighten up Thanet together.
We'll be planting sunflowers in the Sunken Garden in 2024 and hope you come see ours... Who knows ? Yours might be bigger and better than ours... !
Seed Packets currently available in :
Westgate COOP
Garlinge Post Office (Costcutter)
Youngs Plant Nurseries, Sackets Hill, Broadstairs
Tel: 01843 864690 www.youngsnurseries.co.uk
St Saviours Church, Westgate - Seed Library
Barbaras Baps, Garlinge
The Corkscrew Off Licence, Westgate
Dadds Family Butchers, Westgate
Millies Beach Bar, Westgate Promenade
More places coming soon - Watch this space.
Planting Instructions
1) Plant Sunflower seeds between April and May.
2) Sow in pots or straight into the ground where they are going to grow.
3) Remove the weeds and rake the soil to a fine crumbly texture
4) Plant 12 - 15mm deep, leaving a 10cm space between each seed.
5) Water and feed regularly, adding support canes when needed.
A big thanks to Jackie at Youngs for her help with this project.
The story so far......
In 2018 Peter Hasted, a volunteer coastal warden and professional horticulturist, founded the Sunken Garden Society after attending a Bumblebee Conservation Trust volunteer task day. With the support of the BBCT and as part of their 'Making a Buzz for the Coast' project, Peter set up the volunteer group and started the Sunken Gardens Revival.
Sunken Garden 2018
Sunken Garden 2021
Our monthly task days are well attended by up to 30 volunteers from all backgrounds and all ages. Some have fond memories of the gardens and think nothing of travelling miles to pitch in and help with the restoring the gardens.
Testimonials
From Sunken Garden visitors previously local to the area
'Today we were thrilled, delighted and overjoyed to find beautiful flowers and plantings and to see that an amazing amount of work is being carried out, and we wish to wholeheartedly thank all involved for your work and dedication to this project. We are also delighted that the bumblebees will benefit greatly too!'
Awards
2019 RHS 'It's Your Neighbourhood' level 5 'Outstanding'
2019 Kent Wildlife Trust 'Wild about gardens' Bronze
2019 Kent Life magazine 'Best Community Garden' Runner up
2020 RHS 'It's Your Neighbourhood' level 5 'Outstanding'
2020 DEFRA Bees Needs Award
2021 RHS 'It's Your Neighbourhood' level 4 'Thriving'
2021 RHS 'Environmental Challenge' Highly commended.