Making the Most of the Sunshine

Spring Open Day Triumph

Our Spring Open Day, on Saturday 9th May, was a tremendous success, helped along by the splendid sunshine and all of you who came out to support us in such fantastic numbers. It was one of the busiest days we’ve ever seen at the garden, and together we raised a record amount, all of which will go towards supporting the project and the many members of our community who benefit so much from our activities.

Looking Ahead to our Summer Music Day

🎷🍻👩‍🎤 Tickets for our Music Day on Sat 18 July, 2–9pm, are now on sale! 🍸🥘🍕

Join us in the garden for fantastic live music, a wonderful atmosphere and one of the highlights of our year.

🎸Local bands and musicians across two stages, wood fired pizza, cocktails and beers, delicious food and our 1,5 acre walled garden to enjoy it all in.

🎟️ Tickets are £16 and can be picked up from the garden (weekdays 10-3) or booked via Eventbrite. Tickets sell out quickly each year so get yours sooner rather than later.

🧒🏽 There are 20 free “child under 12” tickets available on request on a first come first served basis (pop in or DM).

🚌 Parking is limited but the Loop bus stops right outside at Friends Corner.

🐶 No Dogs at this event please, unless they’re a service dog.

📍The Garden Gate Project

Northdown Park Road

Margate

CT9 3TP

🌱All proceeds from the day support our year round Social & Therapeutic Horticulture work with adults with learning disabilities and mental health challenges.

Please take a look at our website for more information, to find out about other events such as our flower arranging workshops or to order some of our beautiful cut flowers.

https://www.thegardengateproject.co.uk/

A New Volunteer

We’re always happy to welcome new volunteers to the garden, and this month we’re delighted to share an account from one of our newest members.

By Bobbo

As I was walking to my favourite little garden near Friends Corner, I discovered a small laneway tucked away beside the path. While chatting with a local lady, she told me about The Garden Gate Project, and straight away I felt curious to learn more.

The next morning, I returned and happened to meet the same lady again. She warmly introduced me to one of the staff members, who kindly showed me around the garden and explained how the project brought people together through gardening and community.

As I wandered along the pathways and through the growing beds, I kept saying, "Wow." Everywhere I looked there were flowers blooming, vegetables growing, and volunteers working happily side by side. The whole place felt peaceful, welcoming, and full of life.

Before long, I found myself becoming part of it all. The following week I was planting onions and tomato plants, enjoying every moment and feeling proud to lend a hand in such a special garden community.

The Onion Planting

A beautiful May morning, around 10:45 a.m., and the walk to Northdown Park takes about twenty minutes, following quiet roads past green fields and thick hedgerows alive with the freshness of spring. Birds sing from the trees while the soft breeze carries the scent of wildflowers and newly cut grass.

As I reach Friends Corner bus stop, a little lane appears beside the road, almost easy to miss unless you know it is there. Walking down the lane, the noise of the world begins to fade behind me. Then, branching off to the right, hidden away like a secret garden, is The Garden Gate Project — a peaceful community garden tucked into the countryside.

Beside it sits a beautiful little cottage, full of charm and character, as though it belongs in another time. The whole place feels calm and welcoming, a quiet retreat surrounded by nature, where flowers bloom, vegetables grow, and people come together in community and friendship.

I met one of the staff members of the project and signed myself in. The weather was beautiful — one of those perfect May mornings, warm but gentle, ideal for spending time in the garden. The sunshine seemed to brighten every corner of the place, from the flower beds to the little pathways winding between the pods and planting areas.

Soon I met the person next in charge, and I simply asked, “Okay, what do you want me to do?” With that, I was given a small job planting onions.

I was taken over to one of the garden pods where all the tools were kept. There I was handed a kneeling mat along with some simple gardening tools, ready for the task ahead.

Everything felt very organised yet relaxed, and there was something satisfying about preparing for such a simple piece of work.

The funny thing was, I had never planted onions before in my life. So, this was something completely new to me. But that was part of the charm of the place — nobody expected perfection. It was about learning, helping out, and enjoying being outdoors together. As I knelt down on the soft earth, listening to the sounds of birds and distant conversation around the garden, I quietly began planting my very first onions.

It was quite a large garden bed, freshly prepared and ready for planting. I was given a simple tool to press down into the soil, creating neat little holes just deep enough for the onions to be placed into the ground.

I had around three dozen onions to plant, lined up waiting beside me. Armed with my trusty kneeling pad, I slowly worked my way along the bed, carefully placing each onion into its little hole and spacing them out neatly in straight rows.

There was something surprisingly peaceful and satisfying about it. The rhythm of making the holes, placing the onions, and covering them gently with soil became almost relaxing. I found myself enjoying the quiet concentration of the task, surrounded by fresh air, birdsong, and the warm May sunshine overhead.

Although I had never planted onions before, by the end of it I felt quietly proud looking back over the garden bed, seeing the neat rows stretching across the earth, knowing that in time those small onions would begin to grow.

The garden was very well organised, with everything thoughtfully laid out and cared for. Near the entrance there was a little hut where everyone could leave their bags and belongings while working in the garden. It added to the welcoming atmosphere, making the place feel safe and relaxed, almost like arriving at a friend’s home rather than a community project.

Beside it was a small kitchen area where people could make tea and take a break whenever they needed. It was quite quaint and full of charm, simple but cosy, with the comforting feeling that comes from places built around community and kindness. You could easily imagine gardeners gathering there for a quiet cup of tea and conversation after spending time outdoors among the flowers and vegetables.

The whole place had a peaceful rhythm to it — organised but never rushed — where people worked together, shared stories, and simply enjoyed being surrounded by nature.

They even had a large pizza oven set in its own special area of the garden. I was impressed, as I absolutely love pizza. It gave the whole place a warm, welcoming atmosphere, the sort of place where people could gather together after a day’s work in the garden, sharing food, conversation, and laughter. It made the project feel more like a little community than simply a gardening space.      

Lunchtime was always at noon, so I finished my onion planting just before the break, feeling quite proud that I had managed to plant three dozen onions. I couldn’t wait to watch them grow over the coming months. The day before, we had planted tomato plants, so already the garden was beginning to fill with fresh rows of vegetables and colour. There was something deeply satisfying about working with the soil and knowing that, in time, all our hard work would become food shared by the community.

There were many volunteers, all busy with their various jobs. A group next to me were planting and weeding the garden beds, working carefully side by side in the warm morning air.

There was also a craft hut where several very talented people were busy making signs and decorations for the garden. A brand-new sign had just been made for the pizza area, adding a lovely personal touch to the space.

The shed itself was well equipped, filled with paints, tools, and all sorts of materials needed for the different projects around the garden. It felt like a place full of creativity, teamwork, and quiet purpose.

I worked until 1:00 pm. It was not a long shift, but I still felt a real sense of achievement from the morning’s work. After finishing, I carefully cleaned and put my tools away in the storage pod before saying my farewells to the other volunteers.

When I got a quiet moment, I would take a little walk around, admiring the work of the other volunteers, all busy with their planting and weeding, making sure the garden would look its very best for the Open Day on Saturday.

It was the annual event, and lots of people were expected to come along, so everyone wanted everything looking beautiful and well prepared. There was a real sense of excitement in the air as everyone worked together, each person doing their part to make the day special.

The wonderful pizza oven, set proudly in its own little area of the garden, would be fired up during the event, with fresh pizzas being made and sold throughout the day. I could already imagine the smell of the wood-fired pizzas drifting through the garden while visitors wandered around admiring all the hard work that had gone into the project.

There would also be cakes for sale, and many of the volunteers were busy at home baking their favourite recipes to bring along for the event. It felt lovely knowing that everyone contributed in their own special way, whether planting vegetables, tidying the garden beds, making tea, or baking cakes for the visitors to enjoy.

It was all quite exciting, and I found myself really looking forward to the Open Day.

As I left the garden, I was already looking forward to returning on Friday. I knew it would be a busy day, as preparations were underway for the garden’s annual open day. There was a real feeling of excitement building around the project, with everyone working together to make the garden look its very best.

A New Day In The Garden

Friday arrived, another beautiful sunny May morning as I made my twenty-minute walk to The Garden Gate Project. The garden was full of energy and excitement because everyone was busy preparing for tomorrow’s Open Day. Volunteers were everywhere pricing plants, cleaning paths, tidying garden beds, and making sure everything looked perfect for visitors.

My new friend greeted me with a smile and handed me another planting job. This time I was introduced to something completely new to me — fibre optic grass, Isolepis cernua. I had never heard of it before and had a little laugh to myself. Alongside that, I was planting beautiful Phlox Crème Caramel, with its soft creamy flowers that would look stunning once fully grown in the summer sunshine.

As I carefully planted them into the soil, I imagined how lovely they would all look in a few months’ time, swaying gently in the breeze and bringing colour and texture to the garden. Working there amongst friendly volunteers, birdsong, and warm sunshine made me feel peaceful and grateful to be part of such a special place.

Hehe, amazing how quick flowers grow with a  little kind words of encouragement. I walked over to the little pod to collect a watering can and gently gave my newly planted flowers and grasses a good drink of water. The warm May sunshine had already started to dry the soil, and it felt satisfying knowing the plants would settle in nicely after being watered.

After finishing my jobs for the morning, it was finally lunchtime — time to take a well-earned break. The garden suddenly felt calmer as volunteers stopped for tea, sandwiches, and friendly chats together. Sitting there in the sunshine, surrounded by flowers, freshly turned soil, and happy people, I felt content and proud to be part of The Garden Gate Project.

A Busy Afternoon

After lunch and a nice little walk around the garden, I made my way back towards the main area where I was greeted by the manager, who was busy preparing pizzas for the upcoming open day. It was fascinating to watch how carefully everything was done. Flour and yeast were weighed with precision before being poured into a large mixer, the sound of the machine humming away as the dough slowly came together.

The warm smell of fresh dough drifted through the air and made the whole place feel even more welcoming. Everyone seemed busy preparing for the big event, and there was a real sense of excitement building around the garden.

Once the mixing was finished, it was time to portion and weigh the dough. As I walked past, I jokingly called out, “Any jobs going?”

“Yes, come and help me,” the manager replied with a smile. “You can weigh the dough while I roll it.”

Before long, I found myself standing beside him, carefully weighing each piece of dough while he rolled them into neat balls ready to prove overnight. Tray after tray slowly filled up, each one prepared carefully for tomorrow’s pizza making.

As we worked side by side, I couldn’t help but laugh and say, “I’m hoping I might get a free pizza after all this!”

Everyone nearby laughed, and it made the afternoon even more enjoyable. There was such a lovely atmosphere — volunteers chatting happily, a little dusting of flour in the air, and rows of dough balls lined up neatly waiting for the morning. It felt wonderful to be included and to play even a small part in preparing for the open day.

The Garden Gate Project was quickly becoming more than just a garden to me. It was a place full of warmth, kindness, laughter, and people working together to create something special for the community.

It was time to go. Everything was finally ready for the open day. As I walked out through the garden gates, I felt proud — proud of what I had done, and even more proud of everyone who had worked so hard throughout the day.

People had been busy everywhere. Some cleaned and tidied the garden beds, others planted flowers and vegetables. In kitchens at home and in the little garden hut, volunteers baked cakes ready for visitors. Creative hands painted craft signs and prepared displays for the event. It had been a very big day.

The whole project was coming together beautifully, not just because of the gardens, but because of the people. Everyone had played their part, and you could feel the sense of community in every corner of the garden.

As I headed home, tired but happy, I knew the open day was going to be something special.