Friends of Preston Manor Gardens

Tea with the Mayor

The group of volunteer gardeners who meet every Tuesday morning to tend Preston Manor Walled Garden had a visitor last week, when the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Pete West, rode in on his mayoral bicycle to join them for their tea break. The Friends of Preston Manor Gardens was formed in 1995 to help maintain the ‘secret garden’ corner of Preston Park.

Edwardian splendour

The ‘secret garden’ was restored to its Edwardian splendour in 2000 with an astonishing variety of historic perennials and shrubs. Since 1999 the group has worked with head gardener George Harris, undertaking a variety of tasks from leaf sweeping to propagating, requiring all levels of horticultural expertise to keep the gardens looking lovely throughout the seasons.

Within ancient flint walls 

Protected within the ancient flint walls, in soil which has been cultivated for centuries, it is a wonderful place to work. In addition to maintaining the public space, the volunteers grow vegetables in the adjacent former kitchen garden; an informal use of the closed area (pending Council decisions) whose great glasshouses, vinery, peach house and cold frames have sadly been consigned to history.

Would you like to help?

The garden will open on June 9th and 10th for the National Garden Scheme, there will also be a special event in the Walled Garden on June 24th for Preston Village Open Day. Applications to join the group from sociable, enthusiastic gardeners who are able to make a regular commitment to Tuesdays between 10.00am and 1.00pm are welcome.