Saturday 4th April marks the 10th anniversary of Winthrop Gardens being in the ownership of the Parish Council, and celebrations will take place from 11.00am to 4.00pm. There will be plenty happening throughout the day. The annual Great Winthrop Bake Off will be looking for Star Bakers in both the under-14 and over-14 age groups, with a special Star Baker apron awarded for the best Sweet Pie. There will also be live music from Ukejam and the Dinnington Colliery Band. Poet Andrew Stilborn, known locally as ‘Stilly’, will give a reading and a short talk about his poem The Wickersley Pie. A couple of volunteers will even attempt to make a Wickersley Pie, so there may be a chance to taste as well as listen.
Plant sales will be available, and the café will be open serving hot drinks and plenty of cakes.
Parking at Winthrop is limited. On-site parking will be reserved for Blue Badge holders and marshals will be present on the lane. Visitors are encouraged to arrive on foot where possible or to share lifts.
This is a free event – open to all.
The garden comes into the café
Longstanding customers may remember the photo boards on the outside of the old café. Although they were said to be guaranteed not to fade, they eventually did, leaving faded black and white images of little use to anyone. Then Winthrop met the Ravenfield Art Group – now great friends of the garden.
Three members of the group, Paul Freeman, Jill Jesson, Julie Warne, took the old, faded canvases away, along with photographs showing what they originally looked like. They were recently unveiled in their newly repainted form.
Winthrop organiser Anna Chester said: “These repainted photo boards are just amazing. Our artists have done an absolutely fantastic job and the paintings are perfectly placed along our long wall, bringing the gardens right into the heart of our new café. They are already much admired and give people another reason for popping down to Winthrop for a cuppa.”
Winthrop loves Dean Charlton
It was also a pleasure to welcome Dean Charlton from Hooton Walled Nursery, who visited Winthrop to talk to volunteers and friends. Dean was a first-time exhibitor at the RHS Wentworth show in 2025 and has also appeared on BBC Gardeners’ World. He gave a really interesting talk and then stayed a little longer to offer advice on the Winthrop borders. Gardening can be a real challenge when faced with long periods of rain one week and weeks without rain the next. Dean shared some great ideas and interesting planting suggestions – and his nursery in Hooton Roberts is well worth a visit.
Defibrillators at Winthrop
Following many discussions, it has been decided that Winthrop should have a defibrillator. With around 110 volunteers, many customers and visitors, and three regular walking groups – and with many visitors in an older age group – it seemed a sensible step.
Two portable defibrillators will be purchased so that one can remain on site while the other can be taken out by the walking groups. However, they will not be publicly accessible on days when Winthrop is closed, as the gardens are in a fairly isolated location where there is always the risk of vandalism.
The funds needed have been raised through a Go Fund Me campaign. Huge thanks go to everyone who helped – whether by supporting the walkers’ Christmas Cake Tombola, buying raffle tickets at Winthrop, making donations at Dean Charlton’s talk, or contributing individually.
It took just 21 days to reach the target of £1,750, which is a fantastic result and shows how much Winthrop is valued within the local community and by its volunteers and visitors.