About Us - Ventnor Botanic Friends

VENTNOR BOTANIC GARDEN FRIENDS’ SOCIETY Registered Charity No: – 1174751

The Society encourages the use, enjoyment and development of Ventnor Botanic Garden and is helping to increase knowledge about plants.

The Friends organise educational and social events to raise funds for Ventnor Botanic Garden. Plant sales, plant auctions and other events organised by the Friends have raised thousands of pounds.

We made a successful bid for a grant for the Westgate Project, which was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Projects we have funded have included equipping the Greenhouse to grow the Victoria Amazonica lily and the development of the Southern Hemisphere Garden. The most recent grant from the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme allowed the refurbishment of the Hop Yard where the hops for VBG’s unique ales are grown. Walkers using the adjacent coastal footpath can also read information about the micro-climate and wildlife of this unique Garden.

Volunteers have the opportunity to work in the Garden. Members may also participate in all events and are welcome to contribute plants they have grown to the spring and autumn plant sales. Whether you love plants, would like to bring your family and friends to an idyllic setting or want to be actively involved, we will encourage and welcome you warmly as a member.

With additional Gift Aid donations, the Society now makes regular donations to support horticultural apprentices to gain valuable qualifications working in the Garden.

A Forum to share experiences

The Friends of Botanic Gardens Forum (FBGF) of which VBGFS is a member, was set up in September 2019 to encourage information exchange between Friends groups around the UK.

Although the groups operate within different financial and management structures, there is much to be gained by sharing experiences and ideas for activities and fund-raising, and much else.

If you enjoy reading about gardens and looking at lovely pictures, and are interested in what is happening at Botanic Gardens around the country, then head to their website https://fbgf.org to see the Gallery and read the Newsletters.

Rosemary Stewart was our representative from the beginning but relinquished the role to Val Pitts in 2022. In their Summer 2022 newsletter, Rosemary writes her valedictory article about how she became involved at Ventnor. She made a number of other interesting contributions to earlier editions, including one about the hopyard in November 2020. As you can imagine with Rosemary, all are well worth reading.

You can read Rosemary’s article here.

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Fakenham Farm, Eddington Road, PO35 5TN Tel: 07977 550050
10% Discount on plants sales for Members of the VBG Friends’ Society

Caring for the Island’s parks, gardens & designed landscapes.

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