Friends of Meads Parks and Gardens

Friends of Meads Parks and Gardens

Supporter count

21 supporters

  • Mx G supported us with 2 tickets
  • Mrs T supported us with 2 tickets
  • Mx S supported us with 1 ticket
  • Mx T supported us with 1 ticket
  • Mrs W supported us with 2 tickets
  • Mrs T supported us with 1 ticket

Next draw date

4d 9h 10m confetti ball

27 April 2024

Draw results

£25,000 Jackpot

2 5 2 2 3 0
  • Winner! Mr M (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mrs S (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mrs R (POLEGATE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mrs M (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr R (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mx W (POLEGATE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr M (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mrs R (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mrs G (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr M (East Sussex) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mrs K (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mrs W (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr R (Pevensey) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Ms P (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Ms M (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Ms B (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mx K (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mx D (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr R (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mx B (EASTBOURNE) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Ms G (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr Y (Crawley) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Ms R (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr G (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mr F (Cumnock) Won 3 extra tickets!
  • Winner! Mx O (Eastbourne) Won 3 extra tickets!
Sat 20 Apr 2024

About us

The Friends of Meads Parks and Gardens was established in 2015 as a community group to help maintain, improve, restore and enhance the three public parks and gardens in the Meads area of Eastbourne for the enjoyment of both residents and visitors alike. These are:

  • All Saints Park
  • The Helen Garden
  • The Italian Gardens
  • The Peace Garden

All Saints Park with its views of the Victorian convalescent hospital and its magnificent neo-gothic chapel gives it an exceptionally quiet and tranquil atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Trees give shelter and shade and in spring there are stunning displays of flowering bulbs which the Friends helped to plant.

We have also planted a small Physic Garden as an homage to the old hospital and its wonderful history.

The Helen Garden is often called 'the village green by the sea'. Its broad lawns slope gently seawards giving stunning views towards the pier. There is a children's playground which the Friends helped to improve, a putting green and petanque court. It is also home to St John's Bowling Club.

The kiosk, which is open from Easter to Autumn serving hot and cold drinks and light refreshments, is badly in need of repair. The Friends are working with other community groups and the Council to help make this happen

The Italian Gardens, nestled underneath the Helen Garden, this disused chalk pit was landscaped as a garden in 1904 and redesigned in the Italianate style in 1922. As many old postcards show, these gardens were once one of Eastbourne's pride and joy. Stone structures provided seating areas with views towards the sea and pergolas were covered in masses of climbing roses. For a long time, the gardens were abandoned and neglected but in 2018 as a direct result of our lobbying the structures were repaired and overhanging trees and undergrowth cut back.

We are proud to say that our 'Countdown to 2022' campaign launched in 2018 focusing on our plan to reinstate the stone spheres leading up to the stage structure and install an interpretation board telling the story of these beautiful gardens has been a fantastic success. The stone spheres are in place. One is marked with the year 1922 and one with the year 2022 and we held an event to unveil them in June 2022. Funds raised by supporters of the lottery were chanelled into this project and we would like to thank everyone who supported the Friends by naming us as their good cause. We couldn't have done it without you.

The interpretation board was installed in the Autumn of 2022 and the third phase, the replanting of climbers on the pergolas took place in early June 2023. Seventeen roses were planted by a team of FMPG volunteers, supervised by EBC Senior Special Adviser Paul Boyce.

We will be monitoring them regularly and the hope is that they will climb up and around the structures just as they did from the 1920s to the 1970s.

The Peace Garden

Created in what was once the dry moat of the old Martello tower it was originally the grounds of the Wish Tower Cafe and Sun Lounge built in 1961 as a memorial to the 180 civilians who lost their lives when the town was bombed in WWII. After its demolition in 2012, a small group of residents was so concerned about the loss of the memorial that they formed the Eastbourne Civilian War Memorial Trust. After a hugely successful public appeal raising £75,000, the site was transformed into a place of reflection and thanksgiving for more than 70 years free of conflict and renamed the Peace Garden. A stone boulder of Welsh granite bears the names of those who died.

Its work completed, the Trust was closed in June 2020 and the garden was adopted by the Council as a public park. The remaining funds were transferred to the Friends having given their assurance that the money would be used solely for the maintenance and improvement of the Peace Garden.  

Unfotunately, the sign at the entrance to the garden which told its story has not worn well and its position in full sunlight has meant that the text has faded almost to the point of invisability. The replacement of this sign is now a priority for the garden and any help you can give would be great.

If you believe, like us, that parks are precious places, please join the lottery today and nominate the Friends of Meads Parks and Gardens as one of your good causes. We would really appreciate your help and support.  Thank you and good luck!  

Terrie Rintoul, Chair

 

 

 

 

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