About Vernon Square Preservation Society
The Vernon Square Preservation Society was set up in 1989 after an attempt by a local developer to gain planning permission to build on the Victorian garden. At the time Vernon Square was an over grown wilderness. Thanks to the dedication of the founding members the society is growing from strength to strength.
The Society is run by the committee, headed by our present Chair Mr M North, Hon. Secretary Rev N Birkett, Membership Sec Mr M. North, Treasurer Miss C. Kay, Mr K. Doran, Mrs C. North, Mr & Mrs P. Moss, Rev. N. Birkett, Mr P. Martin, Mr T. Waites, Mrs J. Valvona, Mr M. McClellan and a growing number of members.
The gardens are maintained with the help of Ian Ward and his team of Community Service Workers who have put in many days hard work, mowing the lawns, relaying the gardens paths, clearing some of the over grown beds and digging them over. During their work in 2005 the team planted over 2000 daffodils, crocus and snow drop bulbs which should give a beautiful show this coming spring.
Also during 2005 we held two very well attended functions to raise further funds for the garden. In the Summer we hosted a Wine and Cheese evening and in December we held our first ever Carol Service, with the garden lit with candles and willow lanterns, and Mince Pies were washed down with very welcome hot punch . Both the Wine and Cheese evening and Carol Service helped to increase our membership further.
During the coming year we are hoping to hold further events so that locals can meet current members of the society and enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful green oasis.
2006 saw a new era begin for the gardens, the Society was offered the Freehold to the gardens by the Crown, with the help of some fund raising activities which included a talk by Tony Gale and Roy Brinton on the History of Public Houses and Breweries in Ryde, our annual Garden Party and a table top sale we managed to secure the gardens' long term existence so that it will be enjoyed by generations to come.