June 2018

The Chateau of Trevarez in Brittany

June 25, 2018November 26, 2019Home, Parks & Gardens in Europe, Parks & Gardens in France, Parks & Gardens in the UKLeave a Comment

This year has been a scramble from the beginning – photography exhibition, two weeks in Brittany, a working trip to Northern France, and volunteering and photographing with Open Garden Squares Weekend in London. Blogging is out of order, but posting on Brittany is next and I must share with you the wonderful gardens at the Chateau of Trévarez which is situated on a hillside overlooking the Aulne Valley. I was in Brittany to photograph the Churches but took a day out to visit these gardens – and I plan to do the same next year!

The original Chateau was built in the 16C and 17C. Today’s building dates from 1893-1904 and was commissioned by James de Kerjégu, a politician The domain of Trévarez covers over 85 hectares and in the vast parklands are a classical regular garden, an Italian style garden, a picturesque garden with cascades and a recently planted contemporary garden. Trévarez also has a heather collection of national importance, apparently. The gardens feature different plants during the seasons: camellias from November to April, rhododendrons (National Collection) in April and May, Hydrangeas and Fuchsias in the summertime...’. The Chateau was occupied by German forces during WWII and bombed by the RAF, but has been restored and both the Chateau and parklands are open to the public at advertised times.

The Camellias were just going over when I visited in early May, but I found a few, hidden in the bushes. The collection was started in 1970s and now includes, incredibly, hundreds of varieties.

The rhododendrons were glorious! Flowers of all colours – along the walkways, hidden in the woods, in clumps in groves – unbelieveably beautiful.

Rhododendrons at The Chateau of Trevarez

I think this was the ‘Romantic Garden’, built in a quarry and with a waterfall and river. Steps from the garden lead up to a more formal vista and leat leading to the Chateau.

The woods are … beautiful

And alongside the Chateau…

Do visit this bautiful parkland if you are in Brittany – I will be returning in the autumn, and again in the spring next year!

Further information
European Garden Heritage

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

June 15, 2018November 26, 2019Home, London Gardens, Parks & Gardens in London2 Comments

The Olympic Park or The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to give it its full name, is an initiative of the London Legacy Development Corporation to create a new residential, cultural, and business centre in the East End of London around the buildings of the Olympic Games of 2012.

Continue reading ➞ The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Core Landscapes & Open Garden Squares Weekend

June 6, 2018November 26, 2019Home, London Gardens, Parks & Gardens in LondonLeave a Comment

Core Landscapes is an extraordinary social-purpose nursery lying between the Royal London Hospital and the redbrick St Augustine with St Philip’s Church, just off the Whitechapel Road in Tower Hamlets. In their own words: ‘…Core Landscapes transforms meanwhile spaces to promote positive mental health for all. We are a permanent movable garden and plant nursery using horticulture to improve peoples lives.This Whitechapel site in the heart of the East End is our third site move since 2009. Each move tightens the project and improves our ways to container grow – from salad leaves to hornbeams. There are a container-based orchards, herbaceous borders, pond, mini-allotment, garden and plant nursery. We also have a bus! Come and meet our fish – and buy some lovely plants…’. If you are a gardener in the East End of London, or the City, you must visit this garden and talk to its remarkable and resourceful manager!

Continue reading ➞ Core Landscapes & Open Garden Squares Weekend

Cranbrook Community Garden & Open Garden Squares Weekend

June 4, 2018Home, London GardensLeave a Comment

Cranbrook Community Garden is on the Cranbrook Estate which was designed by Francis Skinner, Douglas Bailey and Berthold Lubetkin. The area was heavily bombed during the war and had much inadequate Victorian housing as well. After war damage was cleared the Council commissioned this ambitious new estate in 1955, opening in 1963. The Community Garden started c.10 years ago, alongside the children’s play area and is maintained and managed through the hard work of volunteers, residents of the estate. The shared aim of enjoying fresh air while producing food brings together people of diverse cultures and there are many stories to be told of the good things achieved through the site.

The Cranbrook Estate Children's Play Area & Community Garden — The Cranbrook Estate Children’s Play Area & Community Garden

The garden is a compact site of raised planters, with a seating area, greenhouse, and composting bins. Vegetables and some fruit are grown – no space for flowers! This is a functional site which produces food, and fruit which can be preserved or jammed.

Rhubarb

Onions

Apples

Gooseberries

Courgettes

Currants

Planters covered with netting to keep out squirrels!

There is even some art work brightening up the Wormery Corner!

In the greenhouse the tomatoes and other tender plants are now ready for planting out – the greenhouse is well-used, with a clear planting schedule, as you can see!

Do visit during Open Garden Squares Weekend – and chat to the gardeners – they would love to talk to you! And when you are ready to move on pop round the corner and look at Elizabeth Frink’s statue of The Blind Beggar.

Further information
The history of the Cranbrook Estate
The Cranbrook Community Gardens

Approach Gardens & Open Garden Squares Weekend

June 4, 2018Home, London GardensLeave a Comment

Approach Community Gardens looks more like parkland than allotments – this is a must-visit on Sunday 10 June during Open Garden Squares Weekend! As you walk down the road towards the garden the roses are poking through the railings and you know it is going to be beautiful.

The gardens were renovated just two years ago with a donation from the Lottery Fund which paid for new, sturdy planters, amongst other things. I visited a year ago and the growth and development over the past twelve months is just amazing! Like Cable Street Community Gardens this is about the community which uses the site, and it is about complexity and diversity. Flowers and vegetable live side by side quite happily, there is a wildflower ‘meadow’, a pond, a communal orchard, and lovely green grass with tables and chairs. And quiet corners with a bench or chair and table encourages people to visit, and linger. Just lovely!

The wild flower garden is in a quiet corner, slightly hidden away, and a pleasure to find. A pond is also hidden!

Do visit during Open Garden Squares Weekend!

Cody Dock & Open Garden Squares Weekend

June 3, 2018Home, London GardensLeave a Comment

During Open Garden Squares Weekend I hope you will visit Winterton House, Cable Street, and Crossrail Place Roof Garden north of the River Thames and all accessed from the DLR, to see how neglected sites and areas can be regenerated through hard work, effort, and of course investment. Cody Dock, on the River Lea, is going to undergo a similar regeneration through investment and so Open Garden Squares Weekend is an opportunity to visit before this happens. The site is managed by Gasworks Dock Parnership.

The lower reaches of the River Lea were navigable and the area was used for the manufacture (and export) of chemicals in the 19C. Cody Dock was where coal was delivered to the Imperial Gas and Chemical Works.

Today Cody Dock is a ‘community centre’ which is on the brink of major redevelopment. A cafe provides very good refreshments, and there are many ongoing activities (see the website). Planters are made in the workshop and planted with flowers and small trees as well as vegetables.

A small Sensory Garden alongside the Dock has an educational enclosure as well and the site is clearly well-used by local schools.

There are two boats at Cody Dock: the River Princess and the Corlea. The River Princess, the Docklands Community Boat, has been refurbished and is about to be refloated for trips up and down the River Lea. It was built as a passenger boat for use on the River Thames in 1985 and bought by the Trust in 2011. The Corlea was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd in North Woolwich in 1933 as a tug to handle barges on the River Lea bringing coal to the chemical factories, and to Hackney Power Station.

Cody Dock is not short of art work either! It is on The Line and a piece by Damien Hirst stands outside the River Entrance. The Dolphin looks as though it lights up at night

Damien Hirst 'Sensation' — Damien Hirst ‘Sensation’

Open Garden Squares Weekend is an opportunity to see this site before major regeneration begins, or visit throughout the year.

Further information
The History of Cody Dock
The Lea Valley – with some wonderful Black & White photographs
Peter Marshall’s photography of the River Lea
Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company

Arnold Circus & Open Garden Squares Weekend

June 3, 2018Home, London GardensLeave a Comment

Arnold Circus is at the centre of the Boundary Estate, which started building in 1890 and was one of the earliest social housing developments. The Friends of Arnold Circus have renovated the bandstand and now care for the planting and wildlife on the site. This is a quiet spot, well-used, and just a few minutes away from busy Shoreditch High Street – do visit, and linger, during Open Garden Squares Weekend when you can meet some of the Friends as well. The Gardener, Andy, will be on site, planting, and willing to talk about the difficulties of shade planting, particularly dry shade planting.

Continue reading ➞ Arnold Circus & Open Garden Squares Weekend

Garden Barges & Open Garden Squares Weekend

June 2, 2018June 2, 2018Home, London GardensLeave a Comment

The Garden Barges at Tower Bridge are floating homes with gardens on the rooftops and gangways, and if you haven’t yet visited you should do so this year – the planting is looking gorgeous! Over the past year gardener Sophie Tatzkow has done a wonderful job and I look forward to seeing more of her plantings.