The Well House, Bethesda Street, Upper Basildon, RG8 8NU

The grounds include a surviving village well with its Edwardian Gothic stone enclosure. Beautiful gardens with interesting features including a formal box garden, herbaceous borders, vegetable garden and specimen trees. Woodland walks.

Parking at Basildon Village Hall, Bethesda Street RG8 8NU

Honeycroft House, Pangbourne Road, Upper Basildon, RG8 8LP

With far reaching views across to the Chiltern Hills this garden has interesting features including herbaceous borders, three rockeries, a herb garden, specimen trees, a pond, unusual contemporary sculpture and a “Morrison gate”.

Parking at St Stephen’s Church, Pangbourne Road, Upper Basildon RG8 8LS.

Ingle Spring, Stanford Dingley, RG7 6LX

Beautiful gardens overlooking water meadows. The garden includes the source of the River Ingle which flows around an island created by the owners before joining the River Pang. Unusual plants, specimen trees, orchids, vegetable garden and a bridge crossing the stream. Collection of poultry, chickens, ducks and guinea fowl.

Parking in lane.

Gardens Open: from 2pm to 6pm Cost of Tickets: £8 for visitors, £7 for trust members.  Tickets admit to all three gardens and include introductory timed talks by the owners and refreshments from 3pm at The Well House. Tickets available from Dr Christina Hill Williams on 01491 671 631, Mrs Susan Balchin on 0118 978 1561 or at the garden gates on the day.

Click here to download the flyer/application form

Click here to download poster

Versailles

Geometric Parterre by The Orangery, Versailles

Although my intention was to update this blog for the late autumn/winter, events conspired to prevent this, with various other activities needing to be done more urgently. They include work on the Trust’s responses to several planning issues and in particular the recent Bracknell Forest Council’s consultation about planning policy in relation to Broadmoor, a Grade II registered landscape near Crowthorne. Research is another important area. We have been revising the research form and prioritising sites which need to be looked at, to provide some examples to encourage others to join us.

The Trust has also been busy with the Hungerford Tragedy Memorial Garden and Watlington House projects, contributing an article about the Hungerford garden for the 2012 Association of Gardens Trusts’ Yearbook, about which you will find more elsewhere on the website and in the Spring/Summer Newsletter. The AGT publication contains articles about all sorts of activities with which County Gardens Trusts are involved across the country and makes interesting reading; a copy is available for each Berkshire Gardens Trust member and can either be
collected at a Trust event or acquired if you email or telephone enquiry to us
(we still have some 2011 copies available too if you missed out on this).

On a personal note, I have been lucky enough to go on some great visits to some exhibitions about designed landscapes over the last few months. Some of you may have seen last autumn’s excellently displayed ‘Capability Brown’ exhibition at Compton Verney, Warwickshire. As well as paintings and plans, it was interesting to see some of the equipment which Brown and others would have used in the course of their work in the 18^th century. Another exhibition a bit closer to home was at the Ashmolean in Oxford, where a huge number of prints and some large-scale paintings illustrated the sorts of details observed by the French artist Claude-Lorrain,
who together with Nicolas Poussin, influenced so many of the classically-inspired 18^th century and subsequent garden landscapes in Britain.

In terms of garden visits, I enjoyed my annual ‘pilgrimage’ to  Welford Park, near Newbury in West Berkshire, to see the snowdrop display. Although the sharp cold spells in February and lack of rain has affected so much in the garden, they were still a delight, even on a dull day. The mixed crocus, aconites and hellebores nearer the house complemented them perfectly. It is lovely to have such a special place relatively close by to visit towards the end of winter.

More recently, I was lucky enough to experience several hot, sunny days in Paris. While the trip to Versailles was a little disappointing, due to the statues still being ‘under wraps’ and the various ponds drained, it was still impressive (see opening picture) and also interesting to see the last of the winter work to get the gardens ready for Easter and the summer season: an excuse for a future visit to see the fountains!.  We were however, enchanted by Le Hameau, Marie-Antoinette’s beloved and delightful hamlet with farm and other ornamentally ‘rustic’ buildings: I quite forgave her any extravagances!

I also took Mike on a mini-tour of some of the wonderful public parks in Paris, all of which have played a role in the regeneration and ‘improvements’ to the city in recent centuries. It was interesting to note how they were being enjoyed and
used as well as some of the maintenance issues which it seems beset so many landscapes the world over, especially where economic pressures are present.

The largely 18^th century styled peaceful Parc Monceau, towards the north-west of the capital, towards the north-west of the capital, is a few streets from the bustle of the Arc de Triomphe and still quite well tended.

Parc Buttes-Chaumont

Arch and Columnade, Parc Monceau

Well used, especially by nannies and businessmen, its columnade, arches, other carefully placed features and lawns were in good condition.

To the north-east, the  sloping and lake-side lawns of the dramatic 19^th century Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (commissioned by Napoleon III in the Baron Haussmann era, when huge swathes of Paris were ‘modernised’ and ‘improved’), were full of all sorts of Parisians and visitors picnicking and sunbathing around the 50 metre man-made rocky promontory rising out of the lake.

Parc Buttes-Chaumont

Parc Buttes-Chaumont's Promontory' and its Belvedere

Complete with its belvedere, modelled on the Temple of Sibyl at Tivoli, Italy, it is ageing well.

The late 20^th century Jardins Atlantique, above the Gare de Montparnasse and  surrounded by tall buildings, contain some hidden delights, both in terms of planting and stylish design features such as stylish ‘art nouveau’ lamps and paving designs as well as stepped, scalloped lawns whose shapes were echoed by perimeter seating, raised walkways through lush vegetation within which interesting slate/stone structures were positioned and with a colourful children’s play area and tennis courts to either side.

Jardins Atlantique

Meteorological Sculptures, Jardins Atlantique

The centre of the park has some metallic sculptures; actually a series of instruments for measuring elements of the weather. Sadly, the concrete used for some of the central paths and the wooden-slatted seating were deteriorating, although it was well used, both as a resting place and a thoroughfare.

Another late 20^th century venue, the Parc de la Villette, towards the north-east of Paris, is a real ‘green, cultural lung’ through which the Canal Martin runs with a near-by basin and locks. The park provides a short-cut to and from the River Seine for large boats. It has a lot of open grassy areas and some modern sculpture; we were particularly taken with the ‘de-constructed’ bicycle. However, much of the ‘prairie area’ to the north of the canal and some of the other ‘compartments’ which I remember from a previous visit 10 years ago, appear to have been ‘sacrificed’ for the extension of the musical conservatoire, theatre and science park and large exhibition buildings. Once again it was certainly very well used, especially by families and youngsters taking advantage of the sunshine after school and ‘in transit’ workers and tourists.

Promenade des Plantes

Compartment Garden, Promendade des Plantes

Close by is the Promenade des Plantes, yet another recently created green thoroughfare on the site of an old railway-line; an urban regeneration project to and from the Canal Martin near the Bastille. A few kilometres in length, it incorporates some interesting planting in ‘compartments’ punctuated by trellis and other features, as well as lots of seating. Part-way along, there is also a cafe and upmarket artisan workshops to visit below.

Finally, the late 20^th century Parc Andre Citroen, parallel to the Seine on a previous car and munitions factory site to the south-west of the Hotel des Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, provides what is said to be the third-most expansive urban view in Paris. Although the sunken garden ‘rooms’ and sloping, geometric concrete rills and other features, showed some signs of neglect (the lining of the drained, long rectangular water trough was heavily patched with fountains and concrete edges not looking good),
the overall impact was still as great as when I first visited earlier this century. Certainly the computer-controlled fountains set between two large ‘glasshouses’ are still dramatic, while the geometry of the planted hedges and of the paths between them and across the lawns bisecting the site, remains largely intact and creates an impact, despite the intrusion of a tethered hot-air balloon (which you can pay to ascend in), promoting the services of an environmentally-friendly French bank!

Parc Andre-Citroen

Computer-controlled fountains, Parc Andre-Citroen

Happy Garden Visiting this Spring to all readers!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.