Manston Garden Club

We are a fun club for all people interested in gardening, horticulture and all things associated. We aim to inform complete starters through to experienced gardeners with a series of speakers. We also have a show every year, in August, to allow all to display their areas of interest. Decorating the lovely windows of St Catherines Church four times a year is very popular with our floral arrangers and they appreciate the ability to use such a pleasing backdrop. The Parish council has asked the club to maintain the planters in the Park and volunteers are happy to help our village present a pleasing image.

History
Manston had a thriving Horticultural Society early in the twentieth century but it declined and ceased in the 1970s. An amount of money remained in The William Ledner Trust for the use of a garden club and was left with the Parish Council. In 2004 they asked if anyone was interested in resurrecting the Society and John Lawrie, who owned a local nursery, agreed to start a garden club. It was quickly taken up by a number of the community and with very little income both he and Selwyn Davidson, a renowned florist, alternated in speaking at the meetings to enable interest and income to be generated. They both left the club and the area early in 2006 but left the club in a strong position to continue under the aegis of its members.

Organisation
At the moment we have a Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and three other committee members. However one of our aims for 2007 will be to reorganise this to incorporate sub-committees to try and ensure fuller participation of the members.

Chairman - Nicki Carmody.
Treasurer - Karen Birch
Secretary - Dawn Taylor.

Becoming a member
Though the Membership year starts in February, we welcome visitors at any time for a small entrance fee and anyone can choose to become a member at any meeting by speaking to the treasurer

If you are interested then please come along on the 1st Friday of the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Preston Road, Manston, Kent. You will be most welcome.

If you have any question, queries, concerns or congratulations then you are welcome to contact us at manstongardenclub@yahoo.co.uk