This week we were joined by Pam Wilson and Pete Lambert from the Sutton on Sea Gardening Group which entered the village in the In Bloom competition last year, for the first time since 2019, winning a gold trophy.
The current Gardening Group became active in 2011 adopting various garden areas and planters before taking on the Princess Dianna Gardens in 2012. Things really took off in 2019 and the group now designs, plants, waters and maintains most of the village’s green spaces.
The land is generally owned by ELDC, but the financial support comes from the Town Council, Town Councillors, local business, individuals, and the groups own fund-raising efforts which includes bi-annual coffee mornings, plant sales and even the production of a calendar.
The group enjoy good support from the community and give plenty back, whether it’s taking part in the Sutton Carnival or building Bug Hotels with the Merridale Youth Club.
The biggest challenge has proven to be keeping all the plants watered, and there is now an effort to introduce plants that require less watering and maintenance to keep the work load sustainable.
If you would like to become a volunteer or make a donation, you can find out more about the group on their page on the Sutton on Sea website here, or meet them when they assemble at Merridale 9:30 Mondays and Fridays or for coffee on Friday around 11.