We are thrilled to share a brand-new update that will make attending our events, plant sales, and shows easier than ever for the local community. The River Gardeners can now accept card payments and contactless methods directly at our events!

While we have always loved the tradition of a classic, local community event, we know that carrying cash isn’t as common as it used to be. Whether you are grabbing a raffle ticket, buying local plants, or enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of delicious home-baked cake, you can now simply tap and go.

What payments do we accept?

We can now take all major debit and credit cards, as well as contactless payments via smartphone wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay). If you aren’t familiar with using your phone to pay, you can read these handy guides to setting up Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Can I still use cash?

Absolutely! We are not going completely cashless. If you prefer to use up your loose change or pay with notes, our volunteers will still happily accept cash. We just wanted to offer a bit more flexibility for everyone.

This new system is a fantastic step forward for the club, helping to make our events more accessible and convenient for members, visitors, and families alike.

Try it out at our Summer Show!

We will be testing out the new tech at our annual Summer Show on Saturday, 4th July at the River Village Hall.

Doors open to the public at 2:00 PM (admission is free!), and you’ll be able to use your card in the Kitchen and raffle. Come along to view the incredible seasonal exhibits, enjoy some cake, and test out our new payment system!

Thank you all for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you there—whether you’re paying with coins or card!

Dear Gardeners,

The Parish Council have invited RGA members to help to plant up and maintain some new planters that are to be positioned in the village, with a view to making River even more beautiful than it is now.
This initiative is exciting because it could contribute to the ‘Dover in Bloom’ project, currently underway.

Some members have already kindly volunteered to help, but we would be grateful for a few more willing gardeners. The planters are going to be placed in the Lewisham Road and Lower Road areas.

If you are interested in participating in this project, even in a small way, please call Sue Vick 07474 810840,
email:  [email protected]



Thanks for your help,

Sue

Mark your calendars for the Spring Show on 29th March. It’s going to be a blooming marvel! 🌸 We’re thrilled to announce that a local grower will be joining us to sell plants, so you can take home some green treasures.

Ever thought about giving showing a shot? It’s a great way to showcase your talents and have some fun! Here are the Classes to dive into:

• Photography: Capture the essence of life in various themes. (Classes listed below)
• Cookery: Share your delicious home-made treats. (Classes listed below)
• Gardening: Display your green thumb with pride.
• Crafts: Show off your creative handiwork.

Come join the excitement and see what you can achieve!

📸 Section A: Photography 📸 Open to Members/Non-Members. Only 1 entry in each class per person. Maximum size: 13 x18cm, shown unframed/unmounted.

Classes:

1. New Life
2. Monochrome
3. Arches
4. Take me home, Country Roads
5. It’s a Dogs Life
6. Nightlight

🍰 Section F: Cookery 🍰 Open to Members/Non-Members

Classes:

39. Decorated Victoria Sponge (use own recipe)
40. 5 Easter Nests (use own recipe)
41. 5 Cheese Straws (use own recipe)
42. Focaccia Bread (use own recipe, can be topped with rosemary, garlic etc.)
43. Marmalade – Approx. 500g Jar
44. Soft Fruit Jam – Approx. 500g Jar
45. Stone Fruit Jam – Approx. 500g Jar
46. Lemon or Orange Curd – Approx. 250g Jar
47. Jar of Jelly – Approx. 250g Jar
48. Jar of Chutney/Pickle (Matured)

Get ready to showcase your talents and creativity! We can’t wait to see your entries. Here’s to a year full of growth, both in our gardens and our community.

Show Schedule

Download our Show Schedule here:

Events

See all our Events and get Calendar notifications here:

https://rivergardeners.com/events

River Gardeners’ Association are offering Members and Non-Members alike an amazing 25% discount on orders from our supplier, Kings Seeds.

How to obtain a Catalogue and Order Form

The Catalogues and forms will be available at the following Events:

• Temple Ewell Autumn Show – 07 September 2024 (Temple Ewell Village Hall)
• River Autumn Show – 14 September 2024 (River Village Hall)

Seed catalogues can also be obtained before the shows by contacting: [email protected] or call: 07942 345527

Additional Information

Completed Order forms will need to be returned with the money at the Latest by: 02November 2024 at River Gardeners AGM @ 10AM (River Village Hall)

We are pleased to be offering you a 25% discount off of all orders of seeds. Please note that there is no discount available on any plants, fruit, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, onion and shallot sets, sundry items or Seed Collections. The cheaper rate band shown in the catalogue is available for Potatoes. Plug plants are not included in the scheme and will incur a one-off carriage charge.

Please include your Name, Address, phone number & Email on the order form, deduct 25% discount off and add £1.65 for packing, and return your order by 02November 2024 with cash or cheque made payable to River Gardeners Association.

Return form to Chestnut Tree Cottage, Crabble Avenue, River, CT17 0JB or drop off at our AGM / Coffee Afternoon on 02 November 2024

If you have any queries, call or leave a message on: 07942 345527or email: [email protected]

While our name might evoke images of trowels and topiaries, we at River Gardeners are so much more than a gardening club. We’re a vibrant, all-encompassing community hub that thrives on bringing people together through a trio of annual village shows. These events are a celebration of creativity and community spirit, featuring an array of arts, baking, crafts, and hobbies, alongside a bounty of home-grown produce, vegetables, and flowers.

Our mission is to inspire participation from individuals of all ages. Whether it’s a sketch, a snapshot, a handcrafted item, or a culinary creation, we welcome contributions that reflect the diverse talents of our village and its neighbouring villages.

River Gardeners is synonymous with friendliness and inclusivity. Beyond our shows, we host an assortment of gatherings – from quiz nights to live music evenings – designed to unite our community and support the continuity of our cherished events. Participation in our shows is a breeze, with no membership required. Details are readily available on our website: rivergardeners.com We invite you to explore what we have to offer, join us on a show day to either exhibit your work or simply to revel in the local talent. And don’t miss out on our delightful array of home-made cakes, available for purchase, along with tea and coffee served at unbeatable prices.

As we continue to grow, we’re on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to help orchestrate our show days and major events. There’s also an opportunity to play a pivotal role in our community as a member of our committee. If you’re drawn to making a difference and fostering community spirit, reach out to us at [email protected].

Our passion for nurturing community events is boundless, but to flourish, we rely on your support and involvement. Join us in this communal journey of celebration, creativity, and connection.

Our next event is our Summer Show on Saturday 6^th July, see our website for more details: rivergardeners.com

We will be hosting our Annual Quiz on Saturday 27^th July, 7pm for 7.30pm. Teams of up to 8 welcome at a cost of £3 per head, bring your own food and drink and there will be a Raffle. The quiz is to raise money for a local school/club/charity and the winning team can choose the destination of the donation. With our unique scoring system nobody knows until after the last round which team has won, keeping every team interested right up to the very end. Come and join us for a fun evening. Tickets available from https://rivergardeners.com/event/quiz

List of 2023 event dates are below.

Event Name	Date	Time	Location
Coffee Afternoon	18 Feb 2023	14:00 – 16:00	River Village Hall
Spring Show	01 April 2023	14:00 – 16:00	River Village Hall
Quiz	22 April 2023	19:00 till late	River Village Hall
Summer Show	08 July 2023	14:00 – 16:00	River Village Hall
Autumn Show	16 Sept 2023	14:00 – 16:00	River Village Hall
Seed Swap	23 Sept 2023	TBC	156 Lower Road, River
AGM / Coffee Afternoon	14 Oct 2023	14:00 – 16:00	River Village Hall
Members Christmas Party	09 Dec 2023	TBC	River Village Hall

All events will be published with full details on our Events page nearer to each event.

Subscribe to our Events Calendar here