We will be holding our AGM at Quay House in Kingsbridge on November 24th at 3 o'clock.  There will be short reports from the Chair and the Treasurer, together with a presentation about the Garden.  Everyone welcome!

We are delighted to announce that the Community Garden gained an Outstanding Achievement Award at least week's RHS South West in Bloom presentation ceremony.  Our Chairperson, Angela, was there (on crutches!) to accept the reward in front of an audience of several hundred people - representing communities from all over the South West.

South West in Bloom is one of 18 regional competitions that make up Britain in Bloom, one of the biggest horticultural campaigns in Europe.  Every year hundreds of communities are involved - from tiny rural villages to the largest cities.  We gained our Outstanding Achievement in the Neighbourhood Award category.  Kingsbridge itself was pleased to be awarded a Silver Gilt in the SWTA Cup.  We are all looking forward to a Gold next time!

Our Garden Walkabout is to be held in just over a week's time (June 21st and 22nd).  The Gardens will be open from 2 until 5 and tickets are available from the Community Garden, the Tourist Information Centre and from 5 Veales Road. 

Kingsbridge had a bit of a shock on Saturday (June 7th) as we were showered with hailstones for almost half an hour.  Many of our plants took quite a battering, so garden owners are busy trying to tidy up after the devastation.  One of our trustees had been away for the weekend and thought she had had a plague of locusts, as so many leaves were shredded!

Kingsbridge is well worth a visit at the moment as the town is entering the South West in Bloom competition.  Hanging baskets have appeared all along Fore Street, and we've planted up a couple of boats with flowers.  Come to the Open Gardens and see Kingsbridge in Bloom in more ways thatn one! 

Hello everyone

Apologies to any regular readers who have been dissapointed by the absence of news for so long.  I am back on the case!

Since my last entry we have appeared on TV, been the subject of an article in Amateur Gardening - courtesy of Christine Walkden, and have continued to recruit friends and volunteers.

Forthcoming events include: the Great Plant Sale - May 3rd & 4th, Kingsbridge Open Gardens - June 21st & 22nd, and some Garden Trips - dates to be arranged.

We have also re-launched our 'Friends of the Garden' group. 

More news soon.  Watch this space!

We had a surprise visit from the BBC yesterday (June 27th).  They are filming in Devon for a series of programmes to be presented by the gardener and horticulturist, Christine Walkden.  (You've probably seen her on the TV on Fridays in 'Christine's Garden'.) 

We were delighted to be able to show Christine around the garden and explain to her what we do.  The film crew were with us all afternoon, and hopefully managed to get some interesting footage.  Mercifully, the sun shone most of the time - which was a welcome bonus after days of wet weather. 

If all goes to plan, we will be featured in Christine's 'Summer Diaries' which will be shown on BBC 1 during August.

Christine and the crew were very complementary about the garden and we all feel very positive about what we've achieved.  It's good to see our garden through other people's eyes.  Lots of thanks to all our volunteers - without them we'd have nothing to see.

Watch this space for further news!

The garden is looking lovely at the moment.  We've had some brilliant weather and so have been furiously busy - pricking out and potting on.  The polytunnels and greenhouse are just about bursting at the seams.  Once our Great Plant Sale is over, we might have a bit more space!

You'll notice that we are much tidier and organised than we used to be.  Much of this is down to Rosemary and her gang who are doing a great job.  Garden visitors are very appreciative of what we are doing.   Two visitors this morning said that we beat Carol Klein's garden hands down.  What an accolade!

We are holding a volunteers afternoon on April 15th at Hope House in Fore Street.  Come and find out more about the garden and how you can help.  More details to follow.

We are happy to announce that the owners of 'Barnfield' will be joining us for an Open Day on Sunday 17th June.  This is a great opportunity to see one of the most delightful gardens in Kingsbridge.

The entrance fee of £2 (to be shared 50/50 with Devon Air Ambulance)covers entry to both gardens.  There will be afternoon teas, table top sales and a raffle at 'Barnfield', plants for sale at the Community Garden.

Dogs on leads are welcome at the Community Garden only.  There are gravel paths at 'Barnfield', but wheelchair users have been able to negotiate them in the past.

Our annual plant sale will be held on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May.  Opening hours 10.30 am to 4.30 pm on both days.  There will be a Saturday lunchtime barbecue and afternoon teas on both Saturday and Sunday.

The sale will include vegetable plants, herbaceous perennials, herbs, michaelmas daisies, wild flowers, roses, bog plants, jams and preserves. 

Entrance is free and dogs are welcome so long as they are on a lead.  There is disabled access to the sales and refreshments area.

  We are pleased to report that our fundraising activities this year have been very successful.  We have raised sufficient funds to pay for all of our major expenses this year - so we're all extremely pleased. The Garden Walkabout was particularly good.  Here is an extract from a letter we received from the Town Council.  It really says it all!

"At last week's council meeting the recent Open Garden weekend received much favourable comment.  Mention was made of the great colour and vibrancy on display; much of which had been hitherto hidden away behind the town's high stone walls.  It was very kind of the gardeners to reveal their treasures to the general public.  The Council is aware that both townspeople and visitors enjoyed the feast on display."

Our next Walkabout will be in 2008.  Don't miss it.