A scarily good time at Souper Spooky Saturday
THE Guernsey Botanical Trust’s Souper Spooky Saturday event at the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden proved so popular that 160 litres of homemade soup were not enough.
In the first hour-and-a-half of the annual Halloween-themed event, 400 people turned up to enjoy activities such as pumpkin carving demonstrations, children’s crafts, a lucky dip cauldron and a hunt for spooky pictures in the gardens.
‘We have never had a turnout like it for such an event,’ said Guernsey Botanical Trust volunteer Joy Liggett.
‘We have run out of treasure hunt maps, Cathy [Morgan, another volunteer] has had to go off to photocopy some more, and it looks like we’re going to run out of soup by 1.30,’ she said.
Mary Knight, who was in charge of the soup tent, said it had all been made using produce grown in the gardens.
‘There are seven different sorts of soup and approximately 160 litres,’ she said.
‘But we have underestimated how many people would come.
‘We have far more people than we could have imagined.’
The soups had names such as Sprinty Minty Pea Potion, Witches’ Vegetable Brew and Spectral Asparagus Gloup.
The event proved popular with families and children, such as five-year-old Gryffin Woods, who was exploring the gardens with his mother, Krista.
‘It is amazing, we have supported it every year since they started doing it and it has just got better and better,’ said Mrs Woods.
‘It is a beautiful place and they have got nice weather for it, which is lovely too.’
Gryffin added: ‘I really like the lucky dip.
‘I have just completed the treasure hunt.’
This year was the first that the ‘secret garden’ on the other side of the Orchard House has been used for such events.
‘It is the first time this area has been grassed out and that has allowed us to expand,’ said Mrs Liggett.
‘It also means we had some room by the gatehouse for outside producers to come and showcase their produce.
‘We are also working in partnership with the beekeepers this year, which I think has proven fruitful for both sides.’
Guernsey Botanical Trust director Hugh Johnson said the Halloween fundraiser was vital to the upkeep of the garden: ‘We have to raise £20,000 a year to maintain the greenhouses and, on top of our normal life, we have raised £70,000 towards rebuilding our gatehouse.’
They still need to raise another £30,000 towards that. The sum raised will be matched by the States.
‘The money takes a lot of earning, it is jolly hard work, but we are on a bit of a roll,’ said Mr Johnson.
‘We have had a marvellous infusion of ideas from our volunteers.’
The gatehouse project will see the current building demolished and a new structure built along the entrance wall, with new guest facilities, a shop, storage and volunteer work areas.
