The National Garden Scheme: Judy’s Cottage Garden, Worthing
National Garden Scheme, Worthing
Open: Sat 25 Apr, Sat 27 June, Sat 5 Sept (10.30-3). Admission: £5, children: free. Homemade teas.
A beautiful medium-sized cottage garden with something of interest all year-round. The garden has several mature trees creating a feeling of seclusion. The informal beds contain a mixture of shrubs, perennials, cottage garden plants and spring bulbs. There are little hidden areas to enjoy, a small fish pond and other water features. There is also a raised, pretty log cabin overlooking the garden.
Occasionally, garden openings need to be cancelled. Please always check on the NGS website ngs.org.uk
Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors, The National Garden Scheme has donated over £77.8 million to nursing and health charities and in 2025 made an annual donation of over £3.8 million. The core beneficiaries include Carers Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson’s UK and The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing.
The National Garden Scheme doesn’t just open beautiful gardens for charity – they are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. They also support charities doing amazing work in gardens and health and grant bursaries to help community gardening projects.
To learn more about the National Garden Scheme, discover your perfect garden or find out how to open your own garden, visit ngs.org.uk. For gardens opening in Sussex, pick up a copy of The National Garden Scheme Sussex booklet, available free from many local stores, garden centres and libraries and as an online Flip Book https://www.galleries.co.uk/NGS/sussex26/
25 Apr 2026
10:30 - 15:00
Art Society Arun - Day of Special Interest
The Arts Society Arun, Rustington
Our Day of Special Interest this year is 'The Brilliance of British Architecture and Design' with Ian Swankie.
The Arts Society Arun (TASA) is excited to announce that our Day of Special Interest will be held on Wednesday 29th April 2026 at the Woodlands Centre, Rustington, focusing this year on British Architecture.
The Arts Society Arun (TASA) is excited to announce that our Day of Special Interest will be held on Wednesday 29th April 2026 at the Woodlands Centre, Rustington, focusing this year on British Architecture.
This is a great opportunity to do a deep dive into a fascinating topic, in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. Ian Swankie, an Arts Society favourite, is our speaker for the day.
Doors open at 10.00am for coffee, biscuits and chat, followed by our first talk starting at 10.30am, entitled The Gleaming Spires of London 1666 – 2066. After a short interval we’ll enjoy our second lecture of the day, The Brilliance of Thomas Heatherwick, a Modern Leonardo.
We then break for a Ploughman’s lunch with a glass of wine or a soft drink, and a chance to catch up with old friends and to make new ones.
Our final lecture after lunch is The Classical Reinvented – The Legacy of Sir Christopher Wren. The day finishes around 3.30pm.
And all this for £45 per person! You can book a ticket online via our website www.theartssocietyarun.org.
29 Apr 2026
09:30 - 15:30
Stroke awareness
Ayton House care home, Littlehampton
Join us to hear Janice Dyer from Stroke Association share insights on recognising the signs of stroke and how to care for a loved one through their recovery.
There will also be an opportunity to ask your own questions, share experiences, and take a look around our home.
There will also be an opportunity to ask your own questions, share experiences, and take a look around our home.
30 Apr 2026
11:00 - 12:30
Art Exhibition Highdown Gardens Gallery
Highdown Gardens Gallery, Worthing
Inspiring works from 4 West Sussex Artists: Sarah Semplay, Donna Stiles, Steve Drake & Tony Veal
02 May 2026
10:00 - 04:00
Art Demonstration Using Acrylics, Mixed Media & Collage
Arun Art Society, Worthing
Art demonstration using acrylics, mixed media & collage, with Sera Knight, entitled 'Dancers'.
02 May 2026
14:15 - 16:15
Women's Land Army in Sussex
Arundel Museum, Arundel
War affected every section of society, not just the military. More food needed to be produced and, as men were recruited into the armed services, there were fewer hands to do the work. At the same time, farmers were being pressed to convert more land to arable from pasture. Women had always been involved in agriculture, horticulture and forestry, but now their contribution was critical…
This exhibition will explore the practicalities of how the Land Army was organised, the key figures involved and some of the challenges that were encountered along the way. Despite the misgivings, and sometimes the hostility, of politicians, civil servants, landowners, farmers, trade unions and foresters, who doubted that women would be able to undertake the range of farm work, and very often failed to give WLA leaders and volunteers the credit and recognition they, the women of ‘the Cinderella service’, deserved.
With thanks to Dr John Godfrey for his writing and research for this exhibition.
The exhibition has been generously sponsored by Oakland Grange and Oakland Court Care Homes.
Entry to the exhibition is included in your Museum entry ticket.
(Times when it is not open - Each Wednesday morning and others, please call to check)
02 May 2026
10:00 - 16:00
Blossom Day
Littlehampton Community Growers, LITTLEHAMPTON
Do come and join us for a picnic and celebrate Blossom Day. Littlehampton Community Growers will be holding this event at Maltravers Orchard. Bring your chairs, blankets, food, drink, cameras, painting gear, etc. and have a great afternoon being part of the nationwide annual celebration of blossom.
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w3w: deflated.cycles.jumpy
04 May 2026
13:00 - 15:00
Worthing Antique, Arts & Collectors' Club
Worthing Antique, Arts & Collectors' Club, Worthing
Established in 1968, we are a small, friendly club that meets on the first Tuesday of the month. Each month we invite a guest speaker, for May we have Bertie Pearce, talking about The Dancing Faun, a Roman bronze statue discovered in 1830 in Pompeii.
All are welcome to attend; non-members £7.50. Why not become a member for just £35 pp pa?
Our talks last approximately one hour, with Q&A afterwards, not forgetting our raffle.
For more information about the club and speakers for the year, please visit our website or email [email protected] or call Andy on 07984 403890.
All are welcome to attend; non-members £7.50. Why not become a member for just £35 pp pa?
Our talks last approximately one hour, with Q&A afterwards, not forgetting our raffle.
For more information about the club and speakers for the year, please visit our website or email [email protected] or call Andy on 07984 403890.
05 May 2026
19:30 - 21:00
Ferring Gardening Club Monthly Meeting
Ferring Gardening Club, Worthing
A talk by Pauline Weeks entitled "The Terrors of Opening for the NGS"
Her experiences on opening her garden for the National Gardening Scheme
Her experiences on opening her garden for the National Gardening Scheme
07 May 2026
19:00 - 21:30
MAGNUS VOLK AND HIS AMAZING RAILWAYS An illustrated talk by Ian Gledhill
Rustington Heritage Association, Rustington
Volk’s Electric Railway is a familiar sight in Brighton, running along the beach from near the Palace Pier towards the Marina, but the story of the man behind it is less well known. Magnus Volk was a true pioneer of all things electrical, and he built not one but two electric railways in Brighton. One – the short lived “Daddy Long Legs” - is long gone, but the original railway, opened in 1883, is still going strong and is now officially the oldest working electric railway in the world. This talk by Ian Gledhill tells the story of the railways and the man who built them.
Entry is free for paid up members of Rustington Heritage Association. Visitors £5 (cash only) payable at the door. All admissions subject to availability of seats on arrival. Why not become a member? Just £15 per person per annum for free entry to all our talks in 2026.
Please note this is an evening meeting, so if you’re unable to attend our monthly afternoon meetings, perhaps we’ll see you this time? There will also be an afternoon meeting on 14th May, on a different topic.
07 May 2026
19:15 - 20:30
Dead of Winter
Ferring Community Cinema, Worthing
Ferring Community Cinema's next film is ‘Dead of Winter’.
Hit by a blizzard while travelling alone through snowbound Minnesota, a woman (Emma Thompson) interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Isolated and without a phone signal, this unlikely hero realises she is the young girl’s only hope of survival.
This suspense thriller has been described as ‘outrageously enjoyable’, with Thompson being applauded for her relatable presence and likeability.
Tickets are £6 and available from Ferring Co-Op, the Premier Stores in South Ferring, and on the door on the night. Ticket price includes tea, coffee or a soft drink, and biscuits. Doors open at 6.30 pm for a prompt 7 pm start.
Ferring Community Cinema is a not-for-profit organisation with profits donated to Ferring Village Hall and other charities.
08 May 2026
19:00 - 21:30
East Preston Repair Cafe
East Preston Repair Cafe, East Preston
Bring along your broken domestic items, clothes, jewellery, electrical and household items and we will try to fix them. Knife sharpening service and refreshments available. All we ask for are donations to cover our costs.
09 May 2026
10:00 - 12:30