Now established as an annual event, the Christmas fair at the Greenage Community Garden in Swanage, managed to take place just before Storm Darragh swept across Dorset.
In the lull before the storm on Friday 6th December 2024, the event was well attended with plenty of people snapping up the beautiful handmade festive wreaths, making donations to take home a hand crafted wooden reindeer, and entering the plant stall tombola.
The large greenhouse provides a good space to grow plants and socialise
Growing in popularity
The old Swanage Town Council parks and garden depot in Prospect Crescent was given a new lease of life in 2021 when an enthusiastic team took over the huge greenhouse and grounds to create a community garden.
It’s now growing in popularity with more people than ever coming along to care for the garden, which was reflected in the success of the Christmas fair.
Tea and cake offered to visitors
Chair of Greengage Community Garden Bob Walters on raffle duty
“Always a chance for a cup of tea”
The community garden is run by a management committee, chaired by Bob Walters. He said:
“It’s good to see so many people turn out for our Christmas fair. We’re doing really well, attracting lots of interest in what we’re doing.
“Everyone is welcome to come in and help in the greenhouse, or around the garden and there’s always a chance for a cup of tea – we’re very sociable. Last Tuesday we had a record number of 20 people.”
Christmas wreaths created with foliage from the garden
Rob’s reindeer are always popular at the fair
Back for March 2025
During the spring, summer and autumn, the group meets every Tuesday from 12 noon and Fridays from 10 am.
Although the garden doesn’t really close down over winter, there’s less to do and it’s more a question of undertaking maintenance chores.
The group will be back doing the regular Tuesdays and Fridays from around the beginning of March 2025.
The herb garden ready to come alive in spring
An attractive, sunny corner of the garden under development
“Nice breath of fresh air”
Bob added:
“Now that we’ve become established, the plan for 2025 is to increase our community involvement. It would be good to see more groups and organisations coming up here and spending some time in the garden, whether it’s artists or poets, or those who want to know more about gardening.
“I’m really pleased that some of the members of Allsort’d have started to come along and hopefully they and others will spread the word about what’s going on here.
“We’ve also nearly got the funding for our indoor social building which will provide us with a multi-function space for meetings, hosting school parties, and workshops. That will make a big difference to what we can achieve over the next year.”
“Today, with the fair, it has been amazing. It always feels like a nice breath of fresh air when you walk through our gate!”
Plenty of people dropped in for the Christmas fair
Further information
- Anyone who wishes to get involved in 2025, should just turn up at the garden just off Prospect Crescent in Swanage on a Tuesday or Friday from March 2025
- More about Greengage Community Garden
