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The Hill Garden and Pergola in Hampstead |
Garden squares: open invitation
IF you’re looking for reasons to be cheerful this weekend, visit some of the fabulous gardens opening to the public and see for yourself how they brighten the lives of Londoners.
From elegant garden squares with their magnificent plane trees to wildlife havens and community allotments, Camden and Islington have a wonderful diversity of green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Launched in 1998, Open Garden Squares Weekend is organised by the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting and promoting London’s green spaces. London is one of the greenest cities in the world, but its open spaces are constantly under threat.
Camden is home to the first of London’s famous garden squares, created by the Bedford and Southampton families in the 1660s and beautifully restored today. Elements of Sir Humphrey Repton’s original designs have been retained, alongside a children’s playground and drifts of foxgloves and wild irises, bringing a reminder of the countryside to the city.
There’ll be a booklovers’ tour of the Bloomsbury squares on Saturday, and another exploring the social history of the area on Sunday, both starting from Russell Square.
St Martin’s Gardens in Camden Town, originally the burial ground for St Martin’s-in-the Fields, was relocated in 1805 to make way for Trafalgar Square. Like many urban gardens, it suffered neglect and vandalism.
It was the location for the 1991 film The Grass Arena, Gillies MacKinnon’s bleak portrayal of the lives of homeless alcoholics based on the autobiography of chess champion John Healy.
Today, the tree-lined gardens are more likely to be full of school children on art classes and office workers picnicking on the mound above the rose borders.
There’s been a similar transformation at St George’s Gardens, on the other side of Euston Road, restored in 2001 and actively supported by a friends group, whose latest achievement is a sensory garden, inspired by nearby RNIB.
The award-winning King Henry’s Walk Garden in Mildmay, Islington is taking part for the first time. What was once a derelict site is now a thriving community hub, where local residents have their own organic plots for veg, fruit and flowers. The site also includes a small area of woodland, managed as a wildlife habitat.
There’s a long tradition of excellence in prison gardening, and Holloway will be open for pre-booked visits. This year’s event has teamed up with Tools Shed, the Conservation Foundation’s recycling project, based at Wandsworth Prison.
Anyone with broken or unwanted tools cluttering up their shed, can take them along to the drop off point at one of the participating gardens (Culpeper Community Garden, Park Square, Middle Temple or St Mary’s Secret Garden).
The tools will be repaired in the Wandsworth workshops and donated to schools and community groups – an enterprising way of encouraging the skills that will help to keep our city green.
MARY CRUICKSHANK
Bloomsbury
• Bedford Square
• Calthorpe Community Project
• Coram Fields
• Mecklenburgh Square
NW1
• Park Crescent and Park Square and the hidden nursemaid’s tunnel
that runs between them under Marylebone Road.
• Royal College of Physicians Medicinal Garden
• Camley Street local nature reserve
• St Pancras and St Giles Churchyard
Hampstead
• Branch Hill Allotments
• Gainsborough Gardens
• The Hill Garden and Pergola
Islington
• Canonbury Square
• Culpeper Community Garden
• Edward Square
• Estorick Collection
A ticket costing £8 (£10 on the day) gives access to more than 190 gardens across London. Friends groups will be providing tours and information, refreshments and entertainment.
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Visit www.opensquares.org for full details |
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