The London Garden Book - Abigail Willis

20 Pages·2012·2.89 MB·English

The London
Garden Book
A-Z
Abigail Willis
some extracts from
the book
1 London Garden Book A-Z
Contents
Introduction 1 F Food from the sky 96 R redcross Garden 182 MeeT THe GArdeners:
London Garden History 4 F Front Gardens 98 R rHs Horticultural Halls 184 A Garden reborn 272
F Frugal Gardening Tips 100 R roof Garden on the southbank 186 A Wildlife Garden 276
London GArdens A-Z: G The Garden Museum 102 R roots and shoots 188 Adventures on a rooftop 280
A Allotments 10 G Geffrye Museum Garden 104 S st Mary’s secret Garden 192 An Architect’s Garden 282
Cable Street Community Garden 14 G Green Corners 108 S seeds of Italy 194 An easy Maintenance Garden 286
B Barbican 16 G Guerrilla Gardener 110 S sheds 196 david’s ecohouse 290
B Barge Gardens 20 H Hall Place and Gardens 114 S skip Garden 198 Lutfun’s Garden 294
B Bees 24 H Ham House 116 s spring Fever in Kew 200 Molly’s Urban oasis 296
B Beekeeping on rFH 26 H Hampton Court Flower show 118 S south London Botanical Institute 204 The exotic Garden 298
B Bonnington square 28 A gold-medal winning garden 122 S summer in Kew 208 The shady Garden 300
C Cannizaro Park 32 H Hampton Court Palace Gardens 124 T Thames Barrier Park 210 The Magic roundabout 304
C Capel Manor Gardens 34 H The Hill Garden & Pergola 128 T Thrive in Battersea 212 The Pie & Mash Garden 306
C Capital Growth 38 H Horniman Museum & Gardens 132 T Topiary 214 The Plantsman 308
Winterton House 40 I Inner Temple Garden 134 U Underground in Bloom 216 The Water Garden 312
Rocky Park Growers 42 J Japanese Kyoto Garden 138 V Vertical Garden – Athenaeum 218 sue’s roof Garden 316
Golden Lane 44 K Kensington roof Gardens 140 V Vertical Veg 220
C Carlyle’s House 46 K Kew Garden in Autumn 144 Mark's Vertical Veg Tips 222 GArdener’s dIreCTorY:
C Centre for Wildlife Gardening 48 L Livery Company Gardens 146 V Volunteers 224 London Horticultural societies 320
C Chelsea Flower show 50 L London Plants 150 W Walled Gardens 226 Allotments 321
C Chelsea Fringe 54 L Lost Gardens of London 154 W Westminster College Garden 230 Gardenblogs & Web resources 322
C Chelsea Physic Garden 56 M Market Gardens 156 W What will the Harvest be? 232 organisations 323
C Chiswick House Gardens 60 M Medicinal Garden (rCP) 158 W Wildflower Meadows 234 Garden events 325
C City Gardens (map) 64 M Myddelton House Garden 160 W Wildlife Garden, nHM 236 Garden Centres 326
C Clifton nurseries 74 N national Plant Collections 164 W Wildlife Gardening 240 Community Gardens, City Farms &
C Cloister Herb Garden 76 O ockendon road Tree Gardens 166 W Winter at Kew 250 nature reserves 329
C Columbia road Market 78 Ockendon Road's Tree-Pit Tips 168 W Wisley (rHs Garden) 254 Community orchards 333
C Container Gardening 82 O open Garden squares Weekend 170 W World’s end nurseries 258
C Coriander Club 84 O osterley Park 172 W Worshipful Company IndeX 336
C Culpeper Community Garden 86 P Petersham nurseries 174 of Gardeners 260
D dye Garden at Vauxhall City Farm 88 P Phoenix Garden 176 X X-Factor 262
E eltham Palace 90 P Putting down roots 178 Y The Yellow Book 264
F Fenton House 94 Q Queen’s Wood organic Garden 180 Z Zen Garden 266
B Barge Gardens
Garden designers often talk about getting Connected by ingeniously designed bridges, the
‘movement’ into their creations, but on the garden barges are not just a decorative after-thought:
floating gardens at Downings Roads Moorings they act as walkways to the individual houseboats as
the movement is for real, generated by the well as accommodating studio apartments.
twice-daily ebb and flow of the Thames and the
swell of passing river traffic. For those used Architect Nick Lacey is the man behind the
to terrestrial gardens the gentle sway can be Moorings’ evolution into a floating garden square
disconcerting and visitors are advised to wear (and indeed the gardens do take part in the Open
suitable footwear, and to exercise care when Garden Squares Weekend as well as opening for the
aboard. NGS). The owner of the moorings, Nick was inspired
back in the 80s by seeing a profusion of self-seeded
The oldest surviving commercial river moorings plants growing in a silt-filled lighter and the idea of
in London (dating from at least the first half of the the barge garden was born. Construction is simple:
19th century), the Downings Roads Moorings are the lighters are decked over with a steel deck which
home today to some 30 river vessels converted to produces a planting ‘tray’ about a spit (roughly
residential or mixed use. Some berth holders tend 25cms) deep; the studio quarters are housed on the
small gardens on their own boats but the barge lower deck.
gardens themselves are the main attraction, and
are constructed on seven Thames lighters (flat- Off-shore gardening presents unique challenges and
bottomed vessels used for unloading larger vessels). simply getting the soil (a rich 50/50 mix of top-soil and
farmyard manure) onto the barges was a major
5DowninLgosn Rdooand Gs aMrdooernin Bgosok A-Z London Garden Book A-Z 6
Nick was inspired
back in the 80s by
seeing a profusion of
self-seeded plants
growing in a silt-filled
lighter and the idea
of the barge garden
was born.
Nick Lacey
operation involving a crane and a lot of spadework. Attracting a bohemian community of human
Although the river enjoys a mild microclimate, residents, the barges also appeal to London’s
its desiccating winds make watering a constant wildlife, with ducks, coots, moorhens and geese
concern; drought-friendly plants are helpful but also making their homes here. Nick is keen to
nonetheless in dry weather the gardens need get some bee hives on to the moorings but in the
watering every other day. During hosepipe bans meantime wildlife friendly plants such as nepeta
the gardens are sustained with water pumped and buddleia keep visiting bees and butterflies
from the river which, being silty and full of in nectar. For their creator, the appeal of the
nutrients, the plants relish. barge gardens lies in their fundamental difference
from buildings – for architect Nick, ‘what is so
The barges are planted for year-round interest, wonderful about a garden is that it’s organic,
with an eclectic mix of trees and shrubs, softened it develops, it grows, it changes in a way that
by informal groupings of perennials and self- buildings find more difficult!’
seeded annuals such as poppies. Trees such as
the golden leaved Robinia frisia do surprisingly Downings Roads Moorings
well here, obligingly miniaturising themselves to 31 Mill Street, SE1 2AX
www.towerbridgemoorings.org
adapt to the shallow planting depth, and fruit trees
www.ngs.org.uk
such as medlar, apple and plum also thrive. Soil
www.opensquares.org
fertility is kept high by regular compost mulches
and the odd seaweed dressing.
28 London Garden Book A-Z London Garden Book A-Z 8
B Bonnington square
Bonnington square
Pleasure Garden
Named with a nod to the Vauxhall Pleasure
Garden of old, this resident-run garden square
may not have all the diversions offered by its
famous forebear but what it lacks in orchestral
performances, balloon flights, acrobats and
masked balls it makes up in community spirit
and charm. The site was developed in its
current form in the mid 1990s, when residents
successfully lobbied the council to save and
redevelop the garden (at that point a derelict
children’s playground) for local people. Designed
by ‘committee’, Bonnington Square’s enclave of
artistically inclined residents fortunately included
garden designers Dan Pearson and James
Frazer, who between them devised a luxuriant
planting scheme, combining semi-tropical and
Mediterranean plants with English natives.
The semi-tropical feel of the garden remains
today, with lofty palms, Zealand flax, bananas,
bamboos and mahonia providing the garden with
its architecture and foliage. A small lawned area
basks in the garden’s sunlit centre, with benches
for relaxing on, a picnic table and a children’s play
area among the amenities. Roped border edges
and the odd anchor lying around add a faintly
nautical feel to proceedings, while a giant iron slip
wheel salvaged from a local marble works makes a
dramatic sculptural contribution against the far wall.
Such is the garden’s exuberance that it has spilled
out onto the Square’s surrounding pavements,
which have been planted with trees, shrubs and
climbers as part of the Bonnington Square Garden
Association’s ongoing Paradise Project.
www.bonningtonsquaregarden.org.uk
www.bonningtoncafe.co.uk
99 London Garden Book A-Z London Garden Book A-Z 3150
Harleyford road Community Garden
Begun in the 1980s, this community garden developed more
organically than its neighbour, with no overriding design. As a
result it is more jungle-like, with a relaxed feel compared to the
orderly Bonnington Square. Here, winding mosaic pathways A ‘secret’ passage
lead to several distinct areas, including a recently installed
pond, children’s play area, herb and vegetable beds, and a connects Bonnington
wildlife area (those nettles are there for a reason). Its 1.5 acres
are gardened organically by regular volunteers, with the more Square with... Harleyford
experienced helping the less so, and its plants include well-
established roses as well as more exotic specimens. Both Road Community Garden
gardens take part in the Open Garden Squares weekend (see
p.170), with live music and a variety of stalls.
11 London Garden Book A-Z London Garden Book A-Z 12
C Chelsea Physic Garden
London’s historic gardens don’t come more
venerable than this, the Chelsea Physic Garden.
Occupying a 3.8 acre site of prime Chelsea
riverside, the CPG has been cultivating plants
here since its foundation in 1673, when the
Society of Apothecaries needed somewhere
handy to park their state barge and a place where
they could grow and study medicinal plants.
Today, this jewel of a botanic garden remains a
centre for horticultural research and conservation as
well as a living showcase for the amazing medicinal
resource that is the plant world. It’s a great place
to unwind too – a gentle stroll around its tranquil
paths and themed planted areas makes the perfect
counterpoint to a hectic shopping spree on the
King’s Road.
With over 300 years of experience behind them, the
CPG effortlessly combines beauty with educational
purpose. The Garden of World Medicine is an
Statue of Sir Hans Soane
ethnobotanic display of medicinal plants used by
different cultures, from the Cordyline australis of the
Maoris and the Ocimum tenuiflorum of the Ayurvedic The presence of systematic order beds reminds us
tradition to the Gingko biloba of traditional Chinese that the CPG is a proper botanic garden; divided
medicine. In contrast to these beds (where not all between monocotyledons and dicotyledons, these
the plants here have been scientifically proven), the beds are designed to show the botanical relationship
nearby Pharmaceutical Beds are filled with plants of between plants. It is fascinating to find out where
proven value in current medicinal practice. Arranged plants originate – Alchemilla speciosa from the
by branch of medicine, they reveal how reliant we Caucasus, Camassia quamash from western North
are on seemingly everyday plants such as yew America. To the south of the garden Fortune’s
and barley in disciplines as diverse as oncology Tank Pond is a focus for the CPG’s teeming wildlife
and anaesthesia. If only there were a remedy for – water boatmen, damselflies, newts and leeches.
mankind’s tendency to exploit to extinction – the CPG During the summer it is surrounded by a mini
conserves medicinal plants such as blue cohosh wildflower meadow of British native species such as
and bloodroot that are now endangered thanks to Centaurea cyanus (cornflower) – and a popular port
over-enthusiastic harvesting. The latest development of call with the Garden’s bee population. Their hives
at the garden, the new Garden of Edible and Useful can be seen in the Mediterranean woodland area
Plants, gloriously shows the extent to which we rely and the honey can be purchased in the shop.
on plants for every aspect of our lives: from foods
to building materials, clothing and cleaning to arts Over on the western side of the garden, the
and ritual. It includes an intriguing and beautiful Historical Walk tells the story of the CPG through the
amphitheatre of plants used in perfumery and plants introduced by some of its key players. This
aromatherapy, including the gorgeously scented amounts to a roll call of some of the biggest names
Pelargonium odoratissimum (Geranium), and Rosa in gardening history, including explorer and naturalist
centifolia, the source of attar of roses. Sir Joseph Banks, William Forsyth (who gave his
Order Beds, Chelsea Physic Garden London Garden Book A-Z 57
C City Gardens
There’s more to the City than fat cat bankers dry conditions, while the City’s tall buildings
and shiny office blocks. Built up as it is, the create destructive wind tunnels and vortexes. The
Square Mile is also home to a quirky collection relentless redevelopment of the City (one third in
of gardens, planted highways, churchyards the past 30 years) causes its own problems too,
and burial grounds. particularly for trees, which need time to mature
and which are susceptible to damage or removal
Although most of the gardens themselves are post by reckless contractors.
WWII creations, history is unavoidable in London’s
most ancient quarter, with sites incorporating But its not all doom and gloom; over the past
everything from Roman remains to plague pits 30 years the number of green spaces in the
alongside the latest in contemporary architecture. City has increased tenfold as all new building
developments have to show an environmental
Most of the City’s 200 open spaces are managed by gain. It also helps that the City’s open spaces are
the Corporation of London, with biodiversity high on protected by their own Acts of Parliament and that
the agenda. Wildlife friendly initiatives include insect over £1.5 million a year is lavished on their upkeep
hotels, bird and bat boxes, green roofs, nectar rich (although much of this goes on staff wages for
planting, and the use of pheromone traps instead of the team of 35 gardeners who look after the City
chemical pesticides. The Corporation’s Department gardens, and this amount is likely to decrease in
of Open Spaces uses peat-free bedding medium the future due to budget cuts). A walk around the
in its planters, as well as raising some 250,000 City quickly confirms that its well-used and much
bedding plants in its own nursery in West Ham loved gardens are as much a part of its identity as
Park – thus reducing plant miles. It’s a strategy that chalk stripe suits, and telephone number salaries.
seems to be working because in recent years the
City has become a habitat for rare species such
as the Peregrine Falcon and is a stronghold for the
country's Black Redstart population. The Barbican
Estate is home to a healthy population of the once
common but now endangered house sparrow while
strategically placed log piles have been created in
gardens such as Finsbury Circus, in the hope of
enticing stag beetles into the City.
City gardens flourish in the face of considerable
adversity. The air is polluted and the soil is poor,
compacted and of limited depth – beneath its
scanty surface runs a Swiss cheese labyrinth of
communications cables, power lines, sewers, railway
lines, cellars and basements, not to mention burial
sites and archaeological remains. Although there’s
a toasty microclimate that favours exotic species,
some native plants resent the generally
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Brewers’ Hall Garden
Just off Aldermanbury Square, this street-side
garden consists of three brick built raised beds,
planted with resilient perennials like ladies’ mantle,
bergenia and periwinkle and evergreen shrubs
such as sarcococca. A statue by Karin Jonzen
depicting a gardener at work illustrates why bad
backs and knees are a common complaint among
horticulturalists.
st Mary Aldermanbury
A peaceful garden with three distinct areas,
standing on the former site of the church and
churchyard of the same name. The Wren church,
which replaced a 15th-century predecessor, was
damaged in the Blitz and subsequently relocated to
Fulton, Missouri as a memorial to Winston Churchill
(he made his famous ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in Fulton).
In return for the church, Fulton gave the garden the
swamp cypress at the far end of the garden.
Remnants of the medieval church remain within the St Mary Aldermanbury
garden, and the lawn is studded with the footings
of the columns that once defined the nave. The
Girdlers’ Hall space
church has no shortage of historical associations
– infamous Judge Jefferies was buried here, and Although the Girdler’s Company is in possession
it was in this parish that John Hemynge and Henry of an award winning walled private garden behind
Condell, Shakespeare’s first publishers, worshipped. their classically styled livery hall, it’s the recently
A memorial, topped by a bronze bust of the Bard, revamped open space in front of it that will
reminds us of the debt we owe these ‘heroes of perhaps be more appreciated by workers in search
the First Folio’. This stands as the centerpiece of of somewhere to enjoy their lunchtime sandwich.
a raised paved seating area, with drought tolerant Owned by the Corporation of London, the site, at
planting, in what was once the churchyard. A pretty the intersection of Basinghall Avenue and Coleman
knot garden completes the trio of gardens. Street, is a lovely example of their ‘green corners’
policy with its crisp arrangement of parallel lines
of box hedging, interplanted with soft, billowy
st Lawrence Jewry
grasses, ferns and acanthus, multi-stemmed
An awkward corner site outside the Corporation trees, and possibly the lushest stretch of lawn in
of London’s official church – a Wren creation EC2. Seating for weary City folk takes the form of
extensively rebuilt following war damage. It has granite blocks or more forgiving wooden benches
been ingeniously transformed into a water garden. and chairs. From here the doll’s house like
The pond is planted with water lilies, irises and proportions of the Girdlers’ Hall can be admired,
bulrushes and is home to a large resident carp. against the backdrop of City Tower, which looms in
Blocks of evergreen hedging tactfully indicate the the distance.
garden’s street boundary.
1177 London Garden Book A-Z St Lawrence Jewry London Garden Book A-Z 18
F Front Gardens
They may be small but London’s estimated 1.8
million front gardens cover some 9,400 hectares
and have a big contribution to make to the
capital’s environmental and aesthetic well-being,
providing important habitat for urban wildlife
and a valuable focus for neighbourly interaction.
Conversely, impermeable surfaces bring with
them the increased risk of flooding, the creation of
localized heat islands (which intensify the effects
of heat waves), and contribute to a decline in
biodiversity. Perhaps most importantly, paved
Naomi Schillinger gardens are just plain ugly.
Do Londoners love their cars more than their In Islington one community gardening scheme has
front gardens? In some boroughs it appears harnessed the positive potential of front gardens.
that they do – according to an influential The Blackstock Triangle Gardens Project was
report carried out by Ealing’s Local Agenda started in 2009 by neighbours Naomi Schillinger
21, nearly a quarter of the borough’s 74,300 and Nicolette Jones and initially focused on
front gardens are completely hard surfaced treepits in the local roads. The following year, Caroline Davison Maureen and David Herbert
with no vegetation at all. And the problem is thanks to Capital Growth funding, they added a
exacerbated by a ‘domino effect’ whereby the food growing dimension, with grow bags and free
more front gardens are converted into parking seeds being issued to 50 participants enabling
spaces the less on-street parking is available, them to raise sweetcorn, squash and beans in their
leading to more gardens being paved over. front gardens. In 2011 the number of participants
The trend looks set to continue, despite the doubled to 100 and in an exciting development,
2008 planning regulation requiring planning funding was found for 10 front gardens to have
permission for impermeable surfacing of more their concrete removed and be reinstated as
than 5 square metres. productive spaces. The project has also boosted
community spirit with people getting to know their
However, with a bit of thoughtful design and the neighbours for the first time through their gardens,
use of impermeable materials such as gravel, and friendships cemented over tea and cakes at
reinforced lawns and carefully chosen plants, it popular ‘Cake Sunday’ events.
is perfectly possible for cars and front-gardens
to cohabit. The 2011 RHS publication Gardening www.outofmyshed.co.uk/btg/
Matters, Urban Series: Front Gardens has some
great ideas for car friendly gardens. Ealing Front
Gardens Project hope to reinstate 3 front gardens Garden greenspace in
in 2012, working with home-owners who want the capital’s gardens has
to restore their hard-surfaced gardens back to been lost at a rate of two and
something softer. a half Hyde Parks per year
driven by recent trends in
garden design
Annie Monaghan
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