Neglected Sea Park garden restored by Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate
The Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate team crossed the bridge to revive the forgotten Sea Park garden.
The Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate volunteers are no strangers to making history – and last week they proved it once again.
Fresh off celebrating Blue Flag status at St Michael’s beach, the team ‘crossed the bridge’ to Sea Park, where they rolled up their sleeves to restore a long-neglected public garden on the corner of Umdoni and Ridge roads.
What they found was a space overtaken by waist-high grass, dense weeds, bags of litter and discarded alcohol bottles – yet hidden beneath it all were beautiful, mature plants waiting to be uncovered.
“One wonders when this garden was first created, and by who? It would be interesting to know,” said Reg Horne of Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate, as the team worked in the sun and strong winds to transform the area.
Joining forces with Tidy Towns Banana to Sea Park, the combined crew spent the morning cutting back overgrowth, clearing debris and revealing the garden’s original layout. The result is a refreshed, inviting public space that has already started turning heads.
“It’s not about glory,” said Reg. “We do this to get others involved, to be the change in their beaches or suburbs.”
Christelle Horne added that small, hands-on projects like this helps restore civic pride.
The team hopes nearby businesses and accommodation establishments will support Tidy Towns going forward, ensuring the garden can be maintained and enjoyed for years to come.
Cindy Baker of Tidy Towns Banana to Sea Park thanked the volunteers and encouraged the community to keep supporting the movement.
Cindy and her team are making a significant impact along the coast. They have been instrumental in uplifting and maintaining the popular Southport beach, which recently secured its Blue Flag status for 2026. Other noticeable improvements are also seen at beaches such as Anerley and Sunwich Port, along with ongoing litter-picking. Watch this space!
To support Tidy Towns, contact Cindy on 082 5504368.
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