Kings Moat Gardening Club continues to bloom
🌿 The Kings Moat Gardening Club is continuing to grow into the estate’s most positive and uplifting community group, bringing together residents from Kings Moat and neighbouring Westminster Park through a shared love of gardening, nature and community spirit.🌿
Since launching earlier this year, the Club has enjoyed a fantastic response, with members taking part in a variety of friendly and enjoyable activities.
One recent highlight was a group outing to Gordale Garden Centre to attend the seasonal gardening talk Spring is in the Air.
Members enjoyed an inspiring and informative session packed with ideas for the gardening season ahead, alongside the opportunity to socialise, browse the centre and share gardening tips together.🌼
The Club has also been fortunate to receive support from the knowledgeable team at Grosvenor Garden Centre, whose gardening talks and advice sessions have proved both informative and inspiring.
From propagation tips and greenhouse growing to seasonal planting advice, members have come away full of ideas and enthusiasm for their own gardens
Another proud moment for the group was the recent community litter-pick, which received excellent support from local residents and the valued support of Councillor Matt Carter. Volunteers of all ages came together to help tidy public spaces around the estate, demonstrating the Club’s wider commitment to community pride and environmental care.
The event created a fantastic atmosphere and showed what can be achieved when local people work together.
Alongside gardening activities, the Club has become a welcoming social hub where friendships are forming, neighbours are meeting and people are discovering new interests.
Coffee mornings, seed swaps and relaxed gardening chats continue to be popular, with more activities and evening events planned over the coming months.
The oganisers say the Club’s success has been built on friendliness, inclusivity and a genuine desire to bring people together in a positive way.
With growing membership numbers, exciting plans ahead and a strong community spirit, the future looks very bright indeed for the flourishing Kings Moat Gardening Club.
New members are always warmly welcomed - whether they are experienced gardeners or simply curious to learn more.
🌿Succesful first evening meeting at
Westminster Park Community Centre🌿
Kings Moat Gardening Club members enjoyed a very informative and practical evening with horticulturist Dave Woolmer of Green Heart Horticultural Services who delivered an engaging presentation on plant propagation.
🌱Plant Propagation🌱
Dave shared expert advice on tools, potting media, seed sowing, dividing plants, layering techniques and Plant Breeders’ Rights, with plenty of hands-on demonstrations and discussion throughout the evening.
Feedback from members afterwards showed that many had learnt a great deal and particularly appreciated the practical nature of the session.
As a special bonus, Dave also generously gave away a selection of plants he had propagated himself.
The Gardening Club would like to thank Dave for his time, support and enthusiasm, which made the evening such a success🌼
Want to help garden birds?
Don't feed them in warmer months, says RSPB
🌿 Putting up bird feeders in your garden may seem kind but it could be putting some species at serious risk, according to the UK's largest bird charity🌿
You may have seen recent articles including Gardeners’ World and RSPB advising against the use of bird feeders during the summer months.
👉
Encourage natural feeding
Experts are increasingly recommending a shift towards planting bird-friendly flora. By doing so, we can create a more natural environment where birds are able to forage as they would in the wild.
One of the main concerns is that feeders can facilitate the spread of disease among birds. With many birds gathering at a single feeding point and without any natural way of cleaning their beaks between visits, any infected individual could potentially pass illness on to other birds using the same feeder.
🌿 Community Litter Pick Success at Kings Moat 🌿
Thank you to everyone who took part in the
Gardening Club’s first community litter pick
In less than an hour, volunteers collected over 20 bags of rubbish across 8 areas of the estate, a fantastic result and a real improvement to our local environment.
It was great to see residents coming together and making such a visible difference across Kings Moat.
Our thanks to Councillor Matt Carter for coming along and taking part – it was a fantastic event.
👏 Well done everyone – a brilliant team effort
If you weren’t able to join this time, you’d be very welcome at future events
even a small amount of time can make a big difference
and it’s a great way to meet others in the community
👉 If you’d like to get involved in future activities, you can register your interest by emailing the Gardening Club:
gardeningclub@kingsmoatcommunity.co.uk
Gardening with a Greenhouse
Talk by Vince, Grosvenor Garden Centre Plant Manager
At our March Gardening Club meeting, we were delighted to welcome Vince, Plant Manager at the garden centre, who shared practical advice and insights on gardening with a greenhouse.
Vince explained the importance of good air circulation, particularly when growing tropical plants, and suggested that using a small fan can help reduce excess moisture and prevent fungal problems. He also reminded gardeners to check propagators regularly, as warm and damp conditions can encourage mildew.
The talk included several useful growing tips. Nasturtiums can be trained to grow vertically, making them ideal for smaller spaces, while loofahs can be successfully grown in a greenhouse. Vince also explained that dahlias are tender perennials native to Mexico, which is why they need protection from frost. Biennials can be started in the greenhouse, allowing plants to establish while waiting for the following season.
Vince also spoke about how climate change is affecting gardening, noting that plants such as forsythia are now flowering several weeks earlier than they did in the past.
For gardeners wanting to learn more about plants, Vince recommended the excellent online resource Plants of the World Online from Kew Gardens:
https://powo.science.kew.org
We are very grateful to Vince for sharing his knowledge and helping to make the session both informative and inspiring.
Members also enjoyed swapping seeds and sharing gardening magazines.
As always, the meeting was relaxed and friendly, with time to chat and exchange ideas with fellow gardeners.
New members always welcome - Contact us on:
gardeningclub@kingsmoatcommunity.co.uk
Gardening with a Greenhouse
Whether you already have a greenhouse, are thinking about getting one, or simply want to make better use of a small growing space, this session will be full of practical ideas and shared experiences.
We’re delighted that Vince, Grosvenor Garden Centre Plant Manager, will join us again to share his expert advice and knowledge - including what to sow now, how to make the most of your greenhouse throughout the seasons, tips for successful propagation, and lessons learned (sometimes the hard way!). His talk will be followed by time for questions and discussion.
There will also be an opportunity to swap seeds, so do bring along any spare packets or saved seeds you’d be happy to share.
As always, the meeting will be relaxed and friendly, with time to chat and exchange ideas with fellow members.
Date: Friday 6th March
Time: 11am
Location: Grosvenor Garden Centre
If you have a favourite greenhouse success story - or even a spectacular failure - do bring it along to share. Photos very welcome!
New members always welcome - Contact us on:
gardeningclub@kingsmoatcommunity.co.uk
Kings Moat Gardening Club - First Meeting off to great start
KMGC’s first meeting brought residents together to share ideas and enthusiasm for gardening and community activities. The club's aim is to learn from one another, exchange knowledge, and strengthen community connections through hands-on gardening.
Plans for how the club will run were outlined, with Grosvenor Garden Centre kindly offering space for meetings over the coming months. Email will be the main way members keep in touch, and options for evening and weekend meetings will be explored.
Members also enjoyed an informative talk from Vince, Plant Manager at Grosvenor Garden Centre, who shared practical advice on new-build gardens, plant choice, and seasonal planning.
The next meeting will take place on 6 March at Grosvenor Garden Centre 11am where a seed swap is planned. Members are encouraged to get involved and share ideas for future activities.
Contact us on:
Join our first meeting
When:
🗓️ Friday 6th February ⏰11am
Where:
🏡 Grosvenor Garden Centre Cafe
What:
🌱meet fellow members
🌱learn what the club is all about
🌱seasonal advice from garden centre staff
Let’s dig into Gardening - Everyone welcome
Thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in the Kings Moat Gardening Club. We’ve been delighted by the enthusiastic response.
We are currently in the early stages of planning our 2026 programme.
Join our friendly, inclusive gardening club and grow your skills, confidence and community. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced gardener, you’ll find a warm welcome, practical learning and plenty of chances to get involved.
What’s Planned
🌼 Group meetings with talks, tips and hands-on activities
🎟️ Fundraising events to support our projects
🏡 Community events bringing neighbours together
🎉 Festivals celebrating gardening and the seasons