Sunken Garden Society
Spring is here! The Sunken Garden is awash with new life and a joy to visit. The bulbs planted in October have burst into life, with the lovely yellow daffodils nodding happily in the breeze and crocuses providing food for the early emerging pollinators.
In 2018, the Sunken Garden was a shadow of its former self and these pollinators are what helped form the seed of the Society. Peter Hasted was volunteering with Bumblebee Conservation Trust, planting bee-friendly shrubs and felt that a Garden revival was needed. Sunken Garden Society was formed to bring a group of volunteers together to garden on a regular basis, giving the Garden the TLC that it deserves.
Gardening Days are held on the last Saturday of the month, with themes that suit the season. In February the seed swap was well attended, with people making a special effort to get outdoors on a windy day to join in. Come along on Saturday 28th March to Sow the Seeds for 2026. We supply everything you’ll need, just dress ready to get a bit muddy or wind-proof yourself with a cosy jacket and come along to join a friendly, inclusive group of all ages who enjoy spending time outdoors and giving their time to keep the Sunken Garden looking fabulous. You don’t need to have any experience, there is always someone on hand to guide and help you.
We are delighted to have been awarded a Wilder Kent Silver Award. The Award recognises the work that is done by the Sunken Gardeners, maintaining the Garden and creating habitat for wildlife, through planting and careful space management.
Sunken Garden Society relies on donations from the public and organisations that recognise our contribution to the area. These come in a variety of forms, from financial contributions via our Crowdfunder and Thanet Lotto, to grants from larger organisations and donations of items. We have recently received a container from Thanet District Council and wood from Kan-Doo Timber Supplies to create a base for the water tank. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone that gives, as it all makes a big difference to the Sunken Garden.
The Seed Sowing Day on Saturday 28th March, from 10am to 12noon, will not only give volunteers plants to brighten their own homes and gardens, but will also make a valued contribution to our stall at the upcoming Ellington Park May Fayre. You’ll find us there on Sunday 17th May, selling plants and giving out seeds to grow at home.
Join the Sunken Gardeners on the last Saturday of the month
Sunken Garden, Royal Esplanade, Westbrook, Margate CT9 5EJ
March 28th Seed Sowing
Plans are afoot for the Sunken Garden Eco Fair 2026 – keep your eye on our socials for announcements or sign up for monthly news via the website thesunkengarden.co.uk
Follow @SunkenGardenSociety on Instagram and Facebook to see up to date news.
Sunken Garden Society is also signed up with Thanet Lotto – buy a ticket, nominate your chosen group (us!) and half of the money comes to the Sunken Garden – you are also in with a chance to win. https://www.thanetlotto.co.uk/support/sunken-garden-society
Isle of Thanet Photographic Society
Isle of Thanet Photographic Society Member Laura Drury has an image on show at the House of Commons.
Laura explains: “In 2024 a small number of photographers, including myself, came together to form a creative group. The challenge was to move beyond the obvious and explore a more imaginative approach to image-making. We were encouraged to respond intuitively, creating photographs shaped by emotion, light, tone, mood, connection and communication – interpreting a range of subjects through feeling as much as through form.
“As we approached Mental Health Awareness Day in October 2025 our challenge was to consider our personal feelings and experience of mental health and express them in a photographic image. This exhibition entitled “Mental Health – A Personal Response” is the result of that challenge.
“We each had one image in the exhibition. It is a tragic and deeply unsettling reality that suicide is the leading cause of death among young men up to the age of 34 in the UK. In my image “Closing In”, I have sought to convey a sense of desperation, alongside the constant presence of anxiety and stress. The edges closing in from all sides symbolise the crushing pressure of expectations that can feel overwhelming and inescapable”.
Laura is one of the Society’s most creative and inspirational photographers. She has collaborated in local exhibitions and is a regular contributor to our own competitions.
The Society congratulated Laura on the rare privilege of having her work displayed at the House of Commons.
The club is a community of photography enthusiasts dedicated to promoting the art and science of photography. Through a variety of events, workshops, and competitions, the club provides a platform for members to enhance their skills, share their work, and connect with like-minded individuals.
Website: www.isleofthanetphotographicsociety.com
Meetings are held at 7.30pm on Thursdays at the Portland Centre, Hopeville Avenue, St Peters, Broadstairs CT10 2TR.
QEQM Hospital League of Friends
We are delighted to have funded a walk-in phototherapy cabinet for the Dermatology Department shown with Phototherapy Nurse Specialist Liz and our charity’s Chairman Sylvia with Sue & Terry, two of her colleagues.
Liz said: “We are so pleased to have a UVB phototherapy cabinet back in the Hospital thanks to the League of Friends charity. Carefully calculated doses of artificial UV light are used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, mycosis fungoides and many more.
“This is already resulting in many benefits for our patients including improving the appearance of their skin, their self-confidence and mental health & wellbeing. As a phototherapy team we are fortunate to see the whole patient journey from start to finish.”
The cabinet replaces an old one, itself funded by the League of Friends many years ago, that had become unusable. Some 30 patients benefit up to three times a week and no longer have to travel elsewhere for their treatment.
Please help us fund items like this. There are various different ways you can do so – please visit www.qeqmfriends.com for all the details.
Coastal Striders
Coastal Striders members have donated £500 to the Oasis domestic abuse charity.
The cause was chosen by our members and the money was raised through our annual Coastbuster race which took place in November.
The Coastbuster offers 10 Mile & 10k routes as well as a junior run.
The Coastbuster has become a highlight of the Thanet running calendar, attracting local participants and visitors alike. Its scenic route along the promenade and coastal paths showcases the beauty of Ramsgate, while the welcoming atmosphere ensures the race is as much about community spirit as personal achievement.
Coastal Striders, the organisers behind the event, are a friendly and inclusive running club based in Ramsgate. The club welcomes runners from age 16 upwards and offers weekly sessions ranging from social jogs to speed-focused training.
This year’s event takes place on November 15. Details at: https://www.nice-work.org.uk/e/coastbuster-10-mile-and-10k-9485
Community Lifesavers
For the fourth year in a row, Community Lifesavers CIC have been visiting most of Thanet’s secondary schools to teach Year 7 pupils how to perform hands-only CPR and use a defibrillator. These are vital lifesaving skills, which Community Lifesavers are helping young people learn and feel confident in these areas that are crucial for improving the chances of survival for someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.
In countries where basic life support is taught earlier in schools, survival rates are significantly higher. With 80% of cardiac arrests occurring at home in the UK, students could save lives.
Petra Agnew from Community Lifesavers said, ‘This week, we were so happy to be back at Hartsdown Academy, working with Nigel Knight. It’s always a pleasure to collaborate with someone who is so supportive and shares our goal of helping many young people get ready to act in an emergency.
“The pupils get a short presentation, followed by a demonstration and then a chance to practise what they’ve learned on manikins and training defibrillators. They pick up these skills so quickly and have a fun doing it.”
Nigel Knight, Hartsdown’s Careers and Outreach Coordinator said: “We have been fortunate enough to receive the training for a number of years and have now embedded it into our Year 7 programme, meaning that we have given every student across the school the opportunity to not only have an understanding of life saving techniques, but be equipped and able to deliver CPR and use a defibrillator should the necessity arise. Our students really enjoy the delivery style of the training and the opportunity to get hands on, and this enables them to soon overcome any initial barriers when they first enter the room.
“Last year, again in partnership with Community Lifesavers we began running refresher sessions with Year 9 students so that the knowledge and skills learnt 2 years previously are not forgotten. Our partnership with Community Lifesavers has gone from strength to strength and both students and staff recognise the value of this across the school community and beyond.”
Community Lifesavers is a volunteer-run organisation that in 2025 trained 2,192 people in schools and the community across Thanet and beyond!
If you’re interested in Community Lifesavers running a free session for your organisation or group, please get in touch with them on telephone: 07305 399006 or email: [email protected]
Ramsgate RNLI
They maybe more than 5 hours drive away from us but the members of the Kingsteignton Knit and Natter Circle have reached out and kept our crew warm on this evenings (Thursday 19th March ) RNLI lifeboat exercise.
Back in 2024 the members of the Kingsteignton Knit and Natter Circle started supporting their local RNLI station RNLI Exmouth making them their charity of the year in 2025. They asked what they could easily do to benefit the volunteer crew, and the answer was knitted knitted hats. They chose a design based on one worn by David, a member of the Fishermen’s Friends Choral Group and sent their first batch off to Exmouth lifeboat station where they are worn during exercises as well as being kept onboard the lifeboats to loan to people rescued at sea in need of warmth.
However they didn’t rest on their laurels as news started to spread amongst the local stations, and to date they have been sent to 60 lifeboat stations with Ramsgate recently receiving their own hats.
One of their team recently purchased a lifeboat tea towel that shows all 238 stations which they use to keep track of their donations. They only ask in return for a photo to be emailed back to them of the crew wearing the knitted hats which is added to their album of charity events.
Thank you to all the members of Kingsteignton Knit and Natter Circle for your thoughtfulness and kindness, it was much appreciated by our volunteer crew.
Chartwell House
Chartwell House in Broadstairs has been selected for inclusion in the Knight Frank Luxury Care Home Guide 2026, a prestigious publication showcasing the UK’s top 100 best-in-class care homes.
The Knight Frank guide celebrates care homes that exemplify excellence in luxury settings, hospitality, and design. With over 200 submissions received from more than 60 operators, competition for inclusion was fierce.
Chartwell House, which opened in 2023, features modern facilities including a welcoming bistro, salon, sensory room, hobby spaces, and landscaped gardens. The home is ideally situated near Westwood Cross Shopping Centre and the picturesque Kent coastline, enabling residents to stay connected to their community.
Ameet Kotecha, Founder and Managing Director of Boutique Care Homes, said: “Being recognised in the Knight Frank Luxury Care Home Guide 2026 is a tremendous honour and reflects the dedication of our entire team at Chartwell House.
“From the moment we opened our doors, our vision has been to create a home where residents don’t just receive care, they experience genuine warmth, belonging, and an enriching lifestyle. This recognition validates what we’ve always believed: that exceptional care and elegant surroundings can transform lives.
“I’m incredibly proud of what our team has achieved in such a short time.”
At the heart of Chartwell House is Boutique Care Homes award-winning Life Enrichment Programme, built around six principles of wellbeing: Contribute, Grow, Reflect, Feel, Move, and Connect. The programme offers diverse activities ranging from arts and crafts to intergenerational events with local schools, ensuring residents lead meaningful and active lives.
Boutique Care Homes has established itself as one of the UK’s most celebrated care providers, winning Care Home Group of the Year (Small) at the National Care Awards in both 2023 and 2025. Chartwell House achieved a Good rating across all areas in its first CQC inspection and holds a perfect 10/10 rating on carehome.co.uk.
The Knight Frank Luxury Care Home Guide 2026 will be published later this year and is available at www.knightfrank.co.uk/commercial/sectors/healthcare/care-home-awards
East Kent Open Sessions
East Kent FC would like to welcome all girls of all ages along for our ‘Open Session Days’ as we recruit for existing U12*, U14* & U15* teams, as well as, new teams for the 2026/2027 season.
Our FA & UEFA qualified coaches will take players through some skills sessions and games to get the players excited about playing football with a team.
Whether players are just starting out or *have been kicking a ball for a while, we will have the right team for them at East Kent.
Our ‘Open Session Days’ will be held at our newly acquired Sports Pavilion at Northdown Park. on Thursdays in May 7, 14,21 & 28
Sessions will be 90 minutes long, so plenty of time to get a feel for the place.
Express your interest:
Email [email protected] selecting the date that you want to attend.
Your session will then be allocated based on availability.
Martha Trust
A well-known annual fundraising event in support of Martha Trust took place on Saturday at St Mary’s Arts Centre, raising an incredible £9,000 to support people with profound disabilities.
The venue was transformed into a traditional Bavarian-themed night for the charity’s popular “German Night Marchfest,” marking 11 years of support from Kent-based band Bettesteiner Footstompers. Known across the South East and London, and previously featured on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, the band entertained guests with lively, authentic German-style music.
Volunteers dressed in costume served drinks to guests as the band—featuring characters such as Big Willy, Otto Gell, Gretel, Alto Von Horn and Wandering Hans—delivered a selection of foot-stomping, thigh-slapping tunes, creating a truly festive atmosphere.
In addition to the entertainment, the evening featured a raffle, auction, and a “heads and tails” game, with one guest winning £30. Combined, these activities helped raise an impressive total for the charity.
Kerry Banks BEM, Fundraising & Events Manager at Martha Trust, said: “It was a truly fantastic event that has been enjoyed by so many over the years. We are incredibly grateful to St Mary’s Arts Centre and especially to Siobhan Matthews – the building is spectacular and perfect for this event!
“We are so lucky to have the ongoing support of The Bettesteiner Footstompers who we absolutely love!
“Thank you also to our amazing volunteers whom we could not deliver this event without their dedicated support from prep, to décor, to on the night and the pull down after the event.
“Thank you to Rianna Brown from Barclays for all her support with the event, our sponsors Superior Healthcare Group, Agents Giving and The Guild of Property Professionals, KCB Property Rentals, The Coach, I-Deal Security, RentaBar, Korkers Sausages, Sandwich Community Events, Greencore Salads and to our raffle and auction prize givers who all help to make the event a success.”
Martha Trust has an exciting programme of events planned for 2026, including:
A Golf Day at Walmer and Kingsdown (“Club on the Cliffs”) on 24th April
A charity cricket match at Walmer Cricket Club, Sholden on 30 May
The flagship “Music on the Farm” event at Solley’s Farm, Ripple on 14 June
The next German Night will be returning on Saturday 13th March 2027
For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or to get involved, visit: www.marthatrust.org.uk/events or call 01304 610448.
Don’t Miss Broadstairs
An growing independent local media platform founded in Margate in 2023, is launching its third town edition in Broadstairs on Monday 30 March.
Following the success of Don’t Miss Margate and Don’t Miss Ramsgate, the Broadstairs edition will deliver a free weekly “what’s on” and community life newsletter connecting residents and visitors with independent businesses, cultural venues, events and grassroots initiatives.
The Broadstairs edition has already built a strong waitlist of several hundred local readers and received early demand from businesses keen to be involved.
Founder Georgina Wilson-Powell said: “Don’t Miss began as a simple weekly newsletter to help people feel more connected to what was happening around them. The response in Margate and Ramsgate has been extraordinary. Broadstairs feels like a natural next step, it has such a strong independent spirit and creative community.”
The Broadstairs edition will be led by local editor Kimberley Dadds, who brings deep local knowledge and strong community ties to the role.
Kimberley said: “I’m very excited to be helming Don’t Miss Broadstairs and making sure all of the amazing things the town has to offer is shouted about on a weekly basis.
“Growing up in the area I would often be struggling to find anything unique to do. Now, with so much on offer, Don’t Miss Broadstairs will be providing a vital service to the local community, not only making sure residents don’t miss out on the best things to do locally, but also for the local coastal businesses who need help getting the message out about what they have on.”
The Don’t Miss Broadstairs newsletter will launch on 30 March and come out every Monday at 8.30am, with sign-ups currently open via a dedicated waitlist.
Local businesses, venues and community organisers are encouraged to email [email protected] to submit events and opportunities.
Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS)
Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), together with Sir Roger Gale, MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, brought together MPs from across the South East at a special Westminster reception this week, calling for their support in helping the charity reach even more patients and save more lives in the years ahead.
Held in the House of Commons on 18 March, the event highlighted the lifesaving impact KSS makes every day across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. MPs heard first hand how the charity brings world-leading advanced pre-hospital critical care to the most seriously injured or unwell patients in their communities, performing open heart surgery, blood transfusions and emergency anaesthesia, to help save lives when every second counts.
The charity’s leaders also shared a preview into some of the key enablers within its forthcoming ten-year strategy, outlining where MPs can help make a meaningful difference in their constituencies – helping to give even more people the very best possible chance of survival when the worst happens:
Three key areas were discussed:
Empowering communities to act fast in a medical emergency
KSS developing its aviation capability
Improving and maintaining access to, and safeguarding of, hospital helipads across its region
KSS Chief Executive, David Welch, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the MPs who joined us at Westminster. Their support is essential in helping us drive forward these key enablers as we look ahead to the future of our lifesaving service.
“As part of our new strategy, we’ll be launching a transformational new community activation programme which will bring our lifesaving work right into the heart of our communities. This will include more community prevention, education and training initiatives, a lay responders programme plus important new volunteering opportunities.
“We will also be focussing on developing our aviation capability, looking at how we can reach more patients in low cloud and poor visibility by working closely with key stakeholders on important areas of regulation and technology. We’ll also be looking at the ways in which we can improve and safeguard access to hospital helipads to ensure the best possible hospital helipad infrastructure across our region.
He concluded: “Meeting with MPs this week has shown that by working more closely together, we can drive forward the key enablers that will help us reach more patients and save more lives in communities right across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.”
Sir Roger Gale MP said: “It was a pleasure to host KSS in Parliament and to bring colleagues together to hear more about their vital work. Their specialist teams deliver lifesaving care across our communities every day. It is essential we continue to support the charity so they can reach even more patients and save more lives across the South East.”
For over 36 years, KSS has treated tens of thousands of patients and kept countless families together by bringing the emergency department to the scene of the most serious medical emergencies. Last year alone, the charity responded to over 3,100 incidents, an average of nine a day across its region – serving around five million residents, plus over 90 million visitors and commuters every year.
KSS operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with two specialist doctor paramedic teams and specialist paramedic responders and has a fleet of three helicopters and five rapid response vehicles. It is an independent charity with 91% of its income generated through public support; meaning every lifesaving mission is almost entirely funded by its communities.
The charity is encouraging MPs to champion its vital work in Parliament and across their constituencies as KSS prepares to launch its new ten-year strategy later this year.
