Our vision is to revive the area around Dane Park fountain in Margate. A step towards this vision is to plant 5 cherry trees around the fountain this coming winter 2018 – with your support!

Have you seen cherry trees blossom in spring? It is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable times in a year when they are in full bloom! I have always been fascinated by nature and especially by how trees can help the environment and improve the appearance of our streets and parks. Over time, I have come to realise that planting a tree is one of the simplest yet profoundly positive acts each of us can do.

I live very close to Dane Park in Margate with my two daughters and husband and, like many other local residents, we use the park frequently. We really love Dane Park and believe that it is one of the beautiful landmarks in Margate that urgently needs some collective love and care.

Please help us to raise the funds!

Partnership

This project will be run closely with Dane Valley Woods, a local voluntary organisation who are developing a community woodland in a nearby area of Margate. They have kindly agreed to support the initiative with the loan of tools and other equipment, assisting with the process of accessing external grant funding, and working to raise overall awareness of the project.

Thanet District Council

Thanet District Council has approved the planting of 5 cherry trees around Dane Park fountain. Council will source the trees and further plans to provide benches to place near the fountain.

Costs and Funding

A total amount of 1,250 Pounds (250 Pounds per tree) will be raised. This will cover the purchase of 5 cherry trees, tree guards, tree labels, planting kits and expenses related to the maintenance and care of the newly planted trees over the first two years.

The plan is to raise funds from residents and local businesses through a crowdfunding campaign. In addition, KCC Councillors have expressed interest in providing additional support (approval pending).

The crowdfunding campaign ends on October 14, in less than a month's time.

If we raise more funds than targeted, we plan to either carve tree stumps into animal figures in Dane Park or purchase more cherry trees.

Tree species

The species will be a Japanese Prunus Pink Perfection. It will be sourced as a semi-established sapling of 3-4 m. The tree reaches a height of 3-7m when fully grown. It produces delicate, frothy, double pink flowers that are dark pink in spring and bright red leaves in the autumn time.

https://www.barcham.co.uk/products/prunus-pink-perfection/

Community support

Community champions and resident groups will kindly help us to raise awareness about the campaign. These are, inter alia, Margate Civic Society, Friends of Ellington Park, Dane Valley Councillors, Thanet Community Forest School, Arts Education Exchange, Bring back the Dane Park fountain Facebook group and Trees for Cliftonville and Margate Facebook group/Thanet Trees. We need all the support we can get. 😊

The actual tree planting will be done with volunteers, including Arts Education Exchange who closely works with youth from Cliftonville.

Local businesses

Our love goes out to the local businesses Cliffs, del Renzio & del Renzio (www.delrenzio.com), Curve Roasters, The Bus Café and The Grain Grocer Cliftonville. Thank you!

Cliffs sold 378 cups and pots of tea in September, of which 50p (of each cup/pot sold) were donated to the campaign. Amazing!

Illustration

Local resident artist Claire de Lune has kindly prepared the lovely illustration for the campaign above (see cover photo).

Timeline

The 5 cherry trees will be planted in 2018, most likely in November.

To summarize, your support will help to achieve the following objectives:

• To revive the area around Dane Park fountain and create a welcoming space for families and their friends to enjoy,

• To add to Dane Park’s natural beauty, especially in spring when the cherry trees are in full bloom, and

• To draw in attention from Council and the general public for further improvements.

Please donate whatever you can, however large or small, it means a huge amount to us.

Thank you!

Stephanie Nsom in partnership with Dane Valley Woods