Do you have “Green
Fingers” or “Black Thumbs”? When it rains do you rush out to hold a brolly over
your Dahlias, Chrysanthemums or Sweet Peas? If that’s a resounding NO you’re
like most of us, who just enjoy pottering about on a summer’s afternoon and
keeping the garden neat and tidy throughout the year, maybe growing a few
vegetables at the bottom of the garden or in compost bags on the patio.
 BUT
you don’t need a garden to be a member
Apart from the flower
and vegetable exhibits we also include in our shows classes for Home Produce,
Flower Arrangements, Arts and Crafts, Photography and the Annual “Cover Design”
for our Schedule. There is also the
Green Buddies for member’s children or grandchildren to enter who are under 12 years of age and includes children from St
Margaret's Primary School's Wellie Boot Club. There is also a Junior
Adults Section for the 12 years and over but under 16's.
We have 14 cups which
are annually presented and there’s always a bottle of wine to be won at each
show for the “longest runner bean” or the “most perfumed rose” or perhaps the
“funniest shaped carrot”.
The first St Margaret's Bay Flower Show was held in the Vicarage Meadow on 24th July 1912 under the Presidency of Walter Emden, Esq., JP. It then becam e an annual event and a Society was formed which has continued to function actively until the present day - except for certain War years - and is now known as the St Margaret's and District Gardeners' Association with a membership of 300+.
Membership is just £3 per year and entitles you to exhibit in all of the three
shows, attend any of the afternoon or evening talks and the Christmas
Party. We also hold a summer Coffee Morning, a Wine and Wisdom donating the proceeds to a local charity and an annual summer coach
outing.
Non-members are welcome to attend any of the talks and entry is just £2 or the
Christmas Party £3. If you belong to another RHS Affiliated Association
bring along your Society's schedule and entry is just £1. Refreshments
are always available at our meetings and shows and we usually hold a raffle at
each event. If you would like to join the Assocation just email your name, address and telephone number to stmadga@gmail.comMost events are held at St Margaret's Village Hall, St Margarets-at-Cliffe,
Dover CT15 6AP where there is free car parking or the village car park is just
100 yds away.From Dover or Canterbury: At the Jubilee Way roundabout follow the Deal
Road A258 take 1st turning to St Margaret's-at-Cliffe follow road
through Westcliffe. Turn right at T junction. Through the village take
Reach Road turning opposite The Hope Inn. The St Margaret's Village Hall is 200yds RHS. From
Deal: Follow A258 for approximately four miles take first turning signposted
St Margaret's-at-Cliffe. Follow Road for approximately one mile. Through
the village take Reach Road turning opposite The Hope Inn. The St Margaret's Village Hall
is 200yds RHS.
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