Welcome to Kent House Leisure Gardens

A small gathering of KHLGA members who had been involved in the May 2009 Open Day, met on Tuesday 9th June to discuss how it went, where it went wrong, and what could be done to improve the organisation for the next and following years.

It was financially successful, with gate takings reaching almost  £600. which meant that about two-thirds as many people came as last year. Considering that the day had begun with persistent rain, we felt that this had been a good attendance.

The refreshments team leader reported that their day had begun very slowly, but by the end of the day all the food had gone. The flower and vegetable seedlings sold well, and special thanks were due to Sylvia's method, tried for the first time, of raising seedlings from seed, rather than buying in seedlings. Certainly the plants grew well, and she had commenced trading some days prior to the Open Day.  

The leaflet came in for criticism, arrived late, and it was felt that we might have distributed them better, and that we ought to involve more people in this exercise. Proposals for next year included: buying coloured paper cheaply at boot sales, printing in monotone, a recognisable "symbol" every year, a different sponsor, and not using glossy paper, which it was felt had given a negative 'junk mail' effect. A small team of two people will work on this for the next event.

More "children oriented" side shows seemed to be a generally agreed "good thing", and involvement of local schools in organising their own fund raising stalls to be looked into. Suggestion of a Story Teller tent, somewhere relatively quiet.

A map to be displayed on the day, showing visitors where they might purchase "Flowers" "Lunch" etc.

It was generally agreed we needed to expland the publicity element of the preceding month, writing editorials for the local free press, with pictures.

Most important of all, we need to involve more of our Association members in these activities.

There are some serious hoes around the site - if that's the right word.  Some alternatives are:

• Mattock
• Chillington hoe
• Zappa (as in Frank) - in Italy
• Pioche - in Mauritius
• Piquant - in Mauritius again, but a slightly different shape
• Earth-cutter - or however you say that in Tamil

The people using them seem to swear by them, and for a long time I've wanted to get hold of one, but the prices I'd seen them at in gardening catalogues seems ridiculous. However, earlier this year I saw one on sale at Sydenham DIY - price £20 - and bought it.