Berkshire Gardens Trust

The Berkshire Gardens Trust’s 2012 Spring Lecture by Chris Sumner

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:35:56 +0000

Chris Sumner, architect and garden historian, will be speaking about the restoration of Strawberry Hill House and its garden, one of the many delights along this part of the Thames near Twickenham to the west of London.

In October 2011, the Trustees of the Strawberry Hill Trust were delighted to become a joint winner of the Georgian Group’s prestigious architectural award. Chris is well positioned to explore the challenges and highlights of Strawberry Hill’s Heritage Lottery Funded project. A founder member of the London Parks & Gardens Trust, which he chaired for three years, he is currently Chairman of the Trust’s Planning and Conservation working group.

Chris has worked for the Greater London Council’s Historic Buildings Division and for English Heritage concerned with historic buildings and historic landscapes in London.

Venue: The Barn, Goosecroft Lane, off Beech Road, Purley on Thames, Reading, RG8 8DR.

Time: The doors will open at 7.30pm and the talk will start at 8pm. Come early and enjoy a glass of wine and some light refreshments.

Booking: To reserve a place, please download the flyer below, complete and detach the section below and send it with a cheque for the full amount to: BGT at 124A Barkham Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2RP. There may also be some places available at the door on the night.

Click here to download the flyer/application form

Click here to download the lecture poster.

For information about Strawberry Hill and opening times please ring 020 8744 1241 or visit their website www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk.

Places £6 for BGT members, £8 for non-members, obtainable by sending a cheque made out to Berkshire Gardens Trust and an sae to 124A Barkham Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2RP.

Please phone 0118 984 3504 if you have any queries or would like to join BGT or visit berks-gardens-trust-org.uk if you have any questions about us.

Autumn Lecture by Richard Wheeler, Saturday 19th November 2011

benviljoen — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:57:42 +0000

Over 45 members and guests were treated to a stimulating lecture given by Richard Wheeler, the National Specialist in Garden History for the National Trust at St. Stephen’s Church Centre, Upper Basildon. The lecture was inspired by a classical quotation “Geniumque loci … prectur” or “They consulted the spirit of the place” and considered the garden as an emotive thing that demands an emotive response.

We were very lucky to have such a distinguished Garden History speaker, who gave us a veritable ‘tour de force’ of the range of National Trust properties in England and Wales, as the Trust’s first speaker from further afield. Richard’s lecture was illustrated with examples ranging from the romantic ‘Jacobitism’ of the gardens at Chastleton, Oxfordshire and the heavy handed symbolism at Stowe, Buckinghamshire to the re-creation of ancient and classical times through symbolic features and themes featuring in pre-war English gardens like Sissinghurst, Kent. The lecture resulted in several interesting questions and several of us have made a mental note to visit some of the NT and other properties mentioned, especially in Wales!

Hungerford Tragedy Garden Project – History and Completion

benviljoen — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:47:56 +0000

Historical background and completion of project: In 1987 a local man went berserk and shot dead sixteen people in and around Hungerford before taking his own life. Money was raised to commemorate the victims and a small site was dedicated to their memory. A rose bush was planted for each victim, with other trees and shrubs, but after twentu plus years many of these plants were dead or struggling.

A chance meeting between the Chairman of the Association of Gardens Trusts at our 2009 launch (Gilly Drummond) and the then Mayor of Hungerford (Elizabeth Cardwell) set the ball rolling. Bettina Kirkham came up with a brilliant innovative design, Hungerford Town Council came up with Section 106 funding for the plants and materials, and the Berkshire Probation Service came up with free labour for the heavy work under their Community Payback Scheme.

Young offenders-generally eight at a time – worked with us on Phases One to Three, clearing the site, removing paving, re-turfing and erecting new fencing, painting existing fencing and so on; Phases Four and Five provided opportunities for BGT members to install the new planting.

South Hill Park visit, Saturday 24th September 2011

benviljoen — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:37:16 +0000

The House was built in 1760 by William Watts, an Indian Nabob, who had made a fortune as a senior official with the East India Company. Watts acquired a further 30 acres of common land which he incorporated into his estate, but today the site includes just 24 acres.

Now part of Bracknell, a 1960s new town, today South Hill Park forms a haven for Bracknell people. The house, much altered and re-built from Watts’ original, now serves as an Arts Centre and Theatre for the Borough. In 2011 a major restoration project was completed, funded by a £4.4 million Lottery Grant.

We heard 4 speakers talk about the site, its history, the regeneration scheme and its implementation, and then we were able to tour the grounds to see what has been achieved. The Italianate Garden and the lake looked splendid in the hot sunshine – in no way was the weather autumnal – and it was fascinating to see how many of the features had been treated in the restoration, such as urns which had been repaired and others totally reproduced.

Christina’s December 2011 blog

CWilliams — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:45:30 +0000

The last third of 2011 was one of the busiest and most successful periods which Berkshire Gardens Trust has enjoyed since its formation. On 24th September 60 members and guests gathered at South Hill Park in Bracknell to enjoy talks and tours of this Grade 2 heritage site’s recently restored gardens and grounds. We were delighted to be joined by Landscape Institute South East members. This was late September,but “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” it was not: we were then at the beginning of an unexpected heat-wave;indeed, 5 days later London experienced its hottest day for a century,with temperatures hitting 28.8 C on 29th September! It was,however, highly appropriate that we should enjoy an Indian Summer at South Hill Park, because the House was built in 1760 by William Watts, an Indian Nabob, who had made a fortune as a senior official with the East India Company. A really enjoyable day. See Past Events for more details on this visit.

From East Berkshire, the next day attention shifted to the far edge of West Berkshire when we started the first phase of the restoration of the Hungerford Tragedy Memorial Garden which carried on throughout September. The completed scheme is a real achievement by Berkshire Gardens Trust and we have been told how much it is appreciated by the Hungerford community. I am personally very proud of what our members have achieved in this first practical project we have undertaken. The Hugerford Tragedy Garden Project in the section on Completed Projects has more details.

In November about 50 members and guests assembled at St Stephen’s Church Centre, Upper Basildon for our Autumn/Winter Lecture. This year we heard an excellent talk from Richard Wheeler, the National Trust’s Specialist in Garden History, whose discourse on the Spirit of the Place covered many of the Trust’s great gardens, such as Chastleton in the Cotswolds and Sissinghurst in Kent.It was a really interesting evening,but what struck me in particular was the number of members and guests who turned out on a dark, dreary evening at this dismal time of year.Thank you to all who supported the event. As before, there is a longer report on this occasion elsewhere on the web-site

Finally, 10 of us gathered in early December at Honeycroft House, Upper Basildon for a seminar on the Gazetteer project,one of our long-term initiatives. Parameters were set for 2012, and various ideas were tabled to carry the project forward into the future. So my thanks go to all the Committee and members for the completion of another successful year and I wish you all a Happy New Year.

Awards 2011 – Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative

benviljoen — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:09:16 +0000

Berkshire Gardens Trust visited Woodley Town Council and met the Civic Manager who explained the community purpose of the planting and hanging baskets scheme, to attract visitors and business opportunities to the Town. Finance had been organised through local fund-raising initiatives and sponsorship by local traders. Berkshire Gardens Trust toured the Town Centre, and saw 10 planters and,42 hanging baskets in and around the shopping precinct. They were also impressed to hear about the Gardening Day organised for nurseries in the area and local children. To recognise the community benefit of the scheme to the people of Woodley, Berkshire Gardens Trust have resolved to present a “Commended” Certificate to Woodley Town Council.

The Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire presenting the award to Councillor Colin Lawley the Mayor of Woodley Town Council and Councillor Mary Holmes of Woodley Town Council.

Awards 2011 – Wokingham Town Council

benviljoen — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:06:22 +0000

Wokingham has a long-standing tradition of civic planting and hanging baskets. Berkshire Gardens Trust toured the Town Centre and saw the 15 hanging flower baskets around the Town Hall, and a further 45 baskets on lamp and other columns on Broad, Peach and Denmark Streets. Some of these displays were inspectacular groupings. These have been sponsored by local traders and businesses. To recognise the contribution which the Scheme makes to the civic environment of Wokingham, Berkshire Gardens Trust have resolved to present Wokingham Town Council with a “Commended” Certificate.

The Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire presenting the award to Councillor Peter Lucey the Mayor of Wokingham Town Council.

Awards 2011 – Parsons Down Infant School – Thatcham

benviljoen — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:19:12 +0000

The Infant School Gardening Club was established with four-year-old pupils. Thanks to a successful Lottery Grant Application by a Governor, the School received funding to develop the garden. Parents participated to create raised flower beds to contain flower, vegetable and herb gardens, a memorial garden to a deceased teacher, and a wild garden, and the work continues in a sustainable manner. Berkshire Gardens Trust saw six-year-old children potting on their saplings. They were able to explain the need for this and to answer questions on the names of common garden flowers. To encourage these gardeners of the future, Berkshire Gardens Trust have resolved to present the School with a “Highly Commended” Certificate.

The Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire presenting the award to Sophie Payne, a pupil at Parsons Down Infant School and a member of the School Gardening Club.

Awards 2011- Henleys Allotments – Thatcham

benviljoen — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:31:57 +0000

Berkshire Gardens Trust visited this excellent model of how a local allotment scheme should be organised. They were informed that there is a waiting list for allotments, which were well-maintained. Landscaping and hedging, funded by the Town Council, was carried out by the Community Payback/Unpaid Work Scheme (part of the Probation Service).Native species were used for the hedging. There are moves to extend the allotment area. To encourage the allotment holders and to recognise the excellence of the scheme, Berkshire Gardens Trust have resolved to present Henleys Allotments with a “Commended” Certificate.

The Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire presenting the award to Councillor Brian Barnes of Thatcham Town Council with Mr Dennis Dorey of the Henleys Allotment,Thatcham.

Christina’s September 2011 blog

CWilliams — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:05:32 +0000

It was great to see so many people at our AGM at Watlington House. One has been to so many tedious AGMs where hardly anybody is there and the atmosphere is dreary, so it was refreshing having to put extra garden chairs in the car before we set off (because we realised Watlington House wouldn’t have enough seats, given the number of acceptances !). We had also underestimated the number of orange-juice drinkers, so there was the Chairman rushing off to the nearest Corner Shop to buy in extra supplies before we got started. Good to think we might have run-out because of the numbers.

People wanted to hear about Watlington House, the oldest domestic residence in Reading, and our speakers Gaila and Clive did fantastically well. There was a sharp intake of breath when Gaila revealed her designs for the gardens and grounds. She has put in a lot of work on them. So roll on 2012 when hopefully we get going.

We also had a good presence from the civic dignitaries who were there mainly for the Awards. Ben, a brilliant photographer, took some great pictures of the Lord Lieutenant presenting the certificates which we can use for the press release. Thanks, Ben.

It is a shame that Ben is giving up the Treasurership which has been handled so well and ably over the last 2 years. But he and I went today to see Hugh Simon, a possible successor, and that too went really well. In fact it was Hugh who pointed out to me I hadn’t done my blog bit for the BGT website so here it is ! Good to know we have a prospective Treasurer unafraid to give the Chairman a nudge when necessary !!

The autumn is now panning out before us with plenty planned and we are looking forward to working on the Hungerford Tragedy Garden later this month. The involvement of ex-offenders is so topical now with the summer riots, sentencing, the courts etc and it was good to know that we were once again ahead of the game and had already planned to use the Unpaid Work/Community Payback Scheme within the Probation Service for this. In fact,the former offenders are a West Berkshire team so those old enough to recall the dreadful events of summer 1987 will be aware of the terrible blow that this was to the people of Hungerford, how everyone pulled together and how this is a real opportunity to contribute to a community scheme. And of course it was our own Gilly Drummonmd OBE, President of the AGT, who suggested this as a project for us when she met the Mayor of Hungerford (Elizabeth Cardwell, now a BGT Committee member) at the BGT launch two summers ago. Thanks, Elizabeth and Gilly.

We also have our visit to East Berkshire coming up, when we shall be at South Hill Park in Bracknell. This is an interesting place because the House, though much altered, is the only Nabob property in Berkshire along with Basildon Park which was actually built by an Indian Nabob. The others used their fortunes acquired via the East India Company to buy existing Berkshire properties. It is a couple of years since I went round the grounds so it will be interesting to see what has been done.

Then there is the Gazetteer seminar to organise for our dedicated researchers and the new Membership Leaflet to work on. Plenty happening ! It was great to have existing and new Committee members elected at the AGM and I look forward to working with them all.

Thank you.

Berkshire Gardens Trust Chairman, Dr Christina Hill Williams DL.