The Fair will be a day filled with fun workshops, inspiring talks and eco ideas for all

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The Sunken Garden Eco Fair 2025 will take place at Royal Esplanade, Westbrook, Margate on Sunday 21st September 2025, 11am to 4.30pm.

With the focus of the day on wildlife, ecology, conservation, tree care, gardening in dry conditions and sustainability, The Sunken Garden Eco Fair has announced a host of workshops and information points by 40 representatives of local and national organisations sharing their important environmental work - they include Kent Wildlife Trust, Birdwise East Kent, Animal and Plant Health Agency and Dane Valley Woods.

From bike repairs to bee keeping, bird feeders to hops, growing edible plants to using less plastic and much more, there will be plenty to discover and discuss.

Arit Anderson of BBC Gardener’s World will open the programme of talks, sharing her knowledge of peat, what it is and why is it imperative that gardeners and the horticulture industry, now more than ever, need to learn to grow plants without it, discussing the ups and downs of going peat-free and share some tips on how to grow plants successfully.

This talk will be followed by Charlie Harpur, head gardener of Knepp, bringing his experience of biodiversity and rewilding to a walled garden; Tony Kirkham MBE VMH will share special trees that he has met on his travels, including during his 43 years as Head of the Arboretum, Gardens and Horticultural Services at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Local Steve Edney of The No Name Nursery will conclude the talks with a discussion on drought tolerant and coastal planting. Other discussions and presentations will cover planting, composting and foraging.

Information and booking links are available on www.thesunkengarden.co.uk with updates still being added, so please visit regularly.

Funded and supported by trusts through Kent Community Foundation, Mayor of Margate Fund, Coop and Thanet District Council.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Arit Anderson

Arit Anderson is a garden designer, writer and presenter on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World. Inspired by the joy of her own garden, Arit studied won the RHS Chelsea Fresh Talent award in 2013. She later received a Gold Medal at RHS Hampton Court in 2016. Her designs emphasise simplicity, environmental sensitivity and careful plant selection. Through her company, Diamond Hill Garden Design, she offers garden services across London and beyond.
Working as a presenter for BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World, and writing for national publications has enabled Arit to publicise issues about the future of gardening in an ever-changing climate, and to promote solutions to the wider public.
https://www.diamond-hill.co.uk/about/

Charlie Harpur

Charlie is Head Gardener at the Knepp Castle Estate where he oversees the rewilding of the Victorian Walled Garden. His experience at Knepp includes involvement in the establishment of a regenerative market garden and designing a public landscape at Knepp’s new restaurant and shop.

https://knepp.co.uk/team-member/charlie-harpur/

Tony Kirkham MBE VMH

As Head of the Arboretum, Gardens and Horticultural Services he was responsible for the management and curation of over 14,000 trees and the hardy shrub collections. After 43 years service, for which Tony received an MBE and the VMH, he retired in July 2021.

Tony is an author of many books and papers on trees and lectures in the UK and overseas on the subject, alongside making regular television and radio appearances.

He is on the RHS Council, chairs the Woody Plant Committee, is a trustee of Chelsea Physic Garden, chairing the garden advisory committee, the IDS and TROBI.

https://www.instagram.com/kirkham_tony/?hl=en-gb

Steve Edney, The No Name Nursery

Steve uses direct observation and his love of the natural world to supplement his technical skills as a grower, breeder, horticulturalist and arboriculturalist. He creates gardens that are homes for people and wildlife. His home garden, created with his partner Louise, has appeared on BBC Gardener’s World and has gained gold awards for gardening for wildlife from the Kent Wildlife Trust. Other accolades include multiple RHS Gold medals.

Since 2019 Steve and Louise have been working on The Land project, where they have built The No Name Nursery, a sustainable plant nursery in Kent.

Steve is a freelance garden consultant and an international lecturer talking on many gardening topics all firmly rooted in his practical gardening life.
https://www.thenonamenursery.co.uk/

Sunken Garden Eco Fair 2025

Sunday 21 September 2025, 11am to 4.30pm

Sunken Garden, Royal Esplanade, Westbrook, Margate CT9 5EJ