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2013
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Thirteenth Annual General Meeting
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust
22 March 2013
Twelfth Annual Report
Written in March - William Wordsworth
The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter
The green field sleeps in the sun;
The oldest and youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!
Like an army defeated
The snow hath retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the bare hill;
The plowboy is whooping- anon-anon:
There's joy in the mountains;
There's life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing,
Blue sky prevailing;
The rain is over and gone!
Midsummer Garden Party
Our Midsummer Diamond Jubilee Garden Party on Sunday 23 June 2012
did not, sadly, take place – because we had sold only 15 tickets by the
preceding Thursday. It was thought that the very wet summer, combined with
more than usual garden parties to celebrate the Jubilee, and the Olympics
were possible reasons. It was a shame, because we had put much thought
into delectable 1950s treats. This experience prompted us to rethink what
we would do in future years, and we decided to hold the 2013 party in September,
for a change, as Midsummer often clashes with Father’s Day.
News in the Garden
On 1 & 2 September 2012 Dr Ann Coats led a tour of the Porter's Lodge
and Garden for the local Heritage Open Days. Ann spoke about the Garden
and the porters who lived in the lodge and worked in the dockyard. The
visitors were very interested in the house, the garden and the porters
who lived in the lodge and worked in the dockyard. On the following Sunday,
the 9th, a choral performance by Singing for Water was led by Janet Ayers
for the charity Water Aid. This always attracts an enthusiastic audience
and fills up the garden with people and song.
The crocuses have looked magnificent on the square lawn and the Tête-à-tête
narcissi are really wonderful under the new walnuts. There are sweet peas
for sale and Cris has sown poppy seeds. Foxgloves will be purchased
for the shady bed and wind flowers for the herb bed. Valerian will
be moved to the herb bed. Pauline has planted up the new tub and we are
waiting for spring to do the new plantings. John pruned the Judas tree
and damson tree and one of the cherries on 6 March, with one more cherry
needing pruning. Their new growth has been tied in.
Visits and Events
The Friends celebrated an autumn lunch on 27 September 2012 at Chimes,
organised by Margaret Judd, and a further lunch at the Toby Carvery in
Hilsea. Margaret also organised visits to Abbey Road Fareham, Appleton
House Soberton and The Homestead Hayling Island.
Peter Goodship, the Chief Executive of the Portsmouth Naval Base Property
Trust, treated the Friends to a superb Christmas Dinner at Chesil Rectory
in December, followed by an illuminating tour of Winchester Cathedral.
Both were really memorable and would be repeated with pleasure.
The statue of St Fiacre was unveiled on a bitterly cold 6 February 2013
by Reverend Keith Robus, Naval Base Chaplain, before a gathering of Friends.
John Phillipson, the sculptor, described how he made it and Dr Ann Coats
explained why we had selected this saint as our patron. An obvious reason
is that he is the patron saint of gardeners. He is believed to have been
born in Ireland in the late C6 and sailed to France to seek solitude for
his devotions. There he made a cell with a garden, and established
a chapel and hospice for travellers, a suitable exemplar for our garden,
which is a restful place for dockyard visitors.
The Website, thanks to John Scott, keeps members up to date with what’s
going on in the Porter’s Garden at: www.portersgarden.hampshire.org.uk
Hampshire County Council supports the Friends of the Porter's Garden -
as a community organisation - by hosting the web site and providing free
50MB of web space.
Volunteers
The Friends value the contributions made by all the volunteers during
this year.
Donations
The Friends thank Gill Dawe for continuing to donate plants in such
generous quantities, and keeping our Plant Stand stocked with unusual and
beautiful varieties.
Thanks especially to the Porter’s Garden Committee Friends:
-
Pauline Powell for her hard work as Secretary and Lorraine and Joan for
stepping in to take the meeting minutes
-
John Scott for updating our excellent website
-
Cristine as Treasurer, for keeping us fully informed as to our finances,
and approving Pauline’s spending
-
Margaret Judd, Social Secretary, assisted by Val Pennycook, for arranging
interesting garden visits and lunches
-
All the other Committee members for their valuable input to meetings
-
Last, but not least to Peter Goodship, Lorraine Carpenter, Karol Jefferies
and the PNBPT staff for their support
-
We have also had much help in the Garden from Peter Lambert’s Maintenance
Team, for which we are very grateful, in particular for the new compost
bins
-
The ‘Diggers’ for hundreds of hours digging, watering, propagating, composting,
lawn care, historical and horticultural research, designing, use of petrol
to collect plants, emails and telephone calls, administration, photographs,
plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator,
21 March 2013
top of page
2012
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Eleventh Annual General Meeting
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust
March 2012
Eleventh Annual Report
Note by webmaster: The text was produced from a paper copy of the report by optical character recognition because an electronic copy of the report was not available. The text contains errors generated during the conversion process. 31-Jan-2013
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Eleventh Annual General Meeting
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust
2 2 March 2 0 12
Eleventh Annual Report
First follow Nature, and your judgement frame By her just standard,
which is still the same: Unerring NATURE, still divinely bright,
One clear, unchang'd, and universal light,
Life, force, and beauty, must to all impart,
At once the source, and end, and test of Art. That Artis best which
most resembles her, And still presides, yet never does appear Alexander
Pope, Essay on Criticism (1715)
Midsummer Garden Party
Our Midsummer Garden Party on Sunday 19 lune 2011 celebrated the 10th
Anniversary of the Friends of the Porter's Garden. As had happened three
times before, the guests had to go into Boathouse Six because of wet weather,
but it did not detract from their enjoyment. The Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth,
Councillor Frank lonas, opened the garden party, remarking that when he
was an apprentice in the dockyard the garden had been a car park and that
today was the first time that he had seen it in all its glory. Rob Blanken
led a clarinet quartet from Portsmouth Grammar School. Rob is principal
clarinet in both Havant Orchestras and in Solent Symphony Orchestra and
teaches clarinet at Portsmouth High School for Girls and Portsmouth Grammar
School. Ianet Ayers led the Albert Road Singers who entertained us marvellously
with songs. A special birthday cake added to the festivities.
News in the Garden
There was an excellent crop of Morello cherries this year which ripened
very early. They were harvested in lune and yielded many pounds of jam.
The Shropshire Prune (Damson) tree, kindly donated by Penny and Richard
Russell, planted in February, bore its ñrst fruit on 29 ]uly 2011,
while the Pomegranate flowered for the first time on 7 August 2011. On
10 and 11 September 2011 Dr Ann Coats led a tour of the Porter's Lodge
and Garden. There was a good attendance on the Saturday but disappointingly
the cellar could not be entered because it was locked. Fewer people attended
on the Sunday but they were able to enter the cellar. Both groups were
very interested in the house, the garden and the porters who lived in the
lodge and worked in the dockyard. The tour was followed on the 11th by
a choral performance given by Albert Road Community Choir led by Ianet
Ayers in aid of the charity Water Aid.
Visits and Events
Peter Goodship, the Chief Executive of the Portsmouth Naval Base Property
Trust, treated the Friends to a fabulous day out to Osborne House on 14
September 2011. They sailed to Cowes on the Sea Plane Tender ST 1502 owned
by the Trust. The Weather was kind, the sea smooth and the trip across
the Solent lasted about an hour. From the jetty they were bussed to Osborne
House and enjoyed coffee and cake before our tour of the house and garden.
A highlight was the walled fruit and flower garden restored as part of
the contemporary heritage gardens scheme in 2000 and designed by Rupert
Golby in the Victorian style. The terrace garden, lohn Brown's walk and
memorial bench were also enjoyed. Following a delicious lunch in the Terrace
Restaurant there was still time to take in the mix of domesticity and state
grandeur of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's country retreat and home
before the trip back after a very enjoyable day.
On 29 September 2011 the Friends celebrated lunch at The Brasserie Blanc,
Gunwharf Quays, organised by Margaret Iudd.
Tuesday 17th Ianuary 2012 was the centenary of Captain Robert Falcon
Scott and his party reaching the South Pole. At midday the Friends of the
Porter's Garden laid a wreath at the memorial statue of Scott in the Porter's
Garden in remembrance.
On Wednesday 8 February 2012 Professor Tony Pointon opened the Dickens
border to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’s birth
and the connection with the Pay Office nearby. In 1807, his father Iohn
was transferred to Portsmouth Dockyard, moving to 1 Mile End Terrace, now
393 Old Commercial Road, in Iune 1809. Daily he would Walk down Queen Street
to Work in the dockyard Pay Office, yards from the Porter's Garden. Charles
Dickens was born on 7 February 1812 and five months later the family moved
to 16 Hawke Street, close to the dockyard gates. They later moved to a
villa in Wish Street (site of present Elm Grove) and at the end of the
War, when Charles was three, lohn was transferred to Chatham Dockyard.
lean Flack Munday designed a profile of Charles Dickens overlooking the
border. The planting scheme features primroses, a spring flower that Charles
particularly liked. Red geraniums, another of his favourites, will be planted
later in the season. A leaflet has been published to mark the event.
The Web Site, thanks to Iohn Scott, keeps members up to date with what’s
going on in the Porter's Garden at: www.p0rtersgarden.hampshire.org.uk
Volunteers
The Friends value the contributions made by all the Volunteers during
this year.
Donations
The Friends Wish to thank Gill Dawe for continuing to donate plants
in such generous quantities, keeping our Plant Stand stocked with unusual
and beautiful Varieties.
Thanks especially to the Porter's Garden Committee Friends:
To Pauline Powell for her indefatigable work as Secretary and to Iohn
Scott for updating our beautifully designed and illustrated website. Also
to Cristine as Treasurer, who has kept us fully informed as to our finances,
and is happy to approve Pauline's spending. Continued thanks are due to
Margaret Iudd, Social Secretary, assisted by Val Pennycook, for arranging
interesting garden visits. More thanks are due to the other Committee members
for their valuable input to meetings, and last but not least to Peter Goodship,
Lorraine Carpenter, Karol Iefferies and the PNBPT staff for their support.
We have had much help in the Garden from Peter Lambert's Maintenance Team,
for which we are very grateful.
To the rest of the ‘Diggers', thanks for hundreds of hours spent digging,
watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, historical and horticultural
research, designing, use of petrol to collect plants, emails and telephone
calls, administration, photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries.
DrAnn Coats Coordinator, Z2 March 2012
top of page
2011
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Eleventh Annual General Meeting
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust
24 March 2011
Tenth Annual Report
This past year
This past year the Friends have devoted thought to introducing a more formal
design and planting in keeping with eighteenth century principles and to
give the Garden a 'new look' for our tenth anniversary in 2011 (it was
officially opened in May 2001). To this end we have opened up a central
pathway, lined with box, leading to William III's statue. Two rectangular
beds have been created either side of this path, seasonally filled with
identical plants, planted formally. This relatively simple adaptation of
the existing plan has the advantage of requiring less maintenance while
increasing the focus on William III. The lime trees on the western side
of this bed have been pruned to emphasise a straight lower edge and two
camellias have been potted and displayed in the Raised Garden by Boathouse
Six.
Midsummer Garden Party
Held on Sunday 20 June 2010, the Midsummer Garden Party was again the highlight
of the year, with appropriately hot weather, beneficent shade being afforded
by the walnut trees. The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Paula Riches,
opened the garden party accompanied by Mr Alec Smith, the Lord Mayor’s
Consort. Councillor Riches unveiled three oval plaques made by John Phillipson,
to be displayed on the dockyard wall. They depict Queen Mary II (1689 -
1694), King Charles II (1660 -1685) and Queen Anne (1702 -1714), all of
whom had an interest in gardening. They were fixed to the dockyard wall
on 23 June 2010. A clarinet quartet from the Portsmouth Grammar School
conducted by Rob Blanken played at the party. Following their performance
the Festival Players entertained us with songs and dances. Councillor Terry
Hall, a previous garden 'opener' drew the first ticket for the bountiful
array of raffle prizes. Due to the generous support of the Friends, £420.00
profit was made for the garden.
News in the Garden
On the square lawn in August the lovely Pride of India tree Koelreuteria
paniculata was in full bloom with yellow clusters of flowers and some
early fruit pods. The pods turn red in autumn, each containing three black
seeds. Other common names are golden rain tree, varnish tree and shrimp
tree. The tree was donated by Mrs Gilly Drummond OBE DL and planted in
2004.
For the second year running the Friends opened up the Garden and Porter's
Lodge for Heritage Open Days on 11 and 12 September. The tour described
the development of the garden and the history of the Porter and his extensive
accommodation, including a cellar. This was followed on the 12th by a choral
performance given by Albert Road Community Choir led by Janet Ayers in
aid of the charity Water Aid.
A well decorated pigeon's nest was spotted in one of the walnut trees
on 27 October 2010 after the leaves had fallen. The red pods of the Koelreuteria
paniculata (Pride of India) tree had been put to good use. In December,
for the second successive winter, the garden was delightfully covered in
snow, giving it a truly seasonal feel and possible signifying future colder
winters.
Our latest acquisition, a Shropshire Prune (Damson) tree, was kindly
donated by Penny and Richard Russell in February 2011. A native of the
West Midlands, from Shropshire, it has been known since the 17th century.
It is described as bearing a prolific small oval blue-black fruit, with
excellent flavoured green-yellow flesh. It is compact and reliable, known
as the 'greengage of damsons'. It fruits mid-late September and is suitable
for cooking. The rootstock is St Julien A. It was planted where an Arbutus
Unedo or Strawberry Tree was previously planted. This had succumbed
to extreme winds in the last two winters. It is hoped that the damson will
prove to be more hardy.
A further new arrival is a finger post directing visitors to the Pique
Stone.
Visits and events
The Friends also relax and celebrated their comradeship at an autumn lunch
on Friday 22 October 2010 at The Brasserie Blanc, Gunwharf Quays. Our thanks
go to Margaret Judd for organizing this and several garden visits through
the year, including a visit to snowdrops in the rain! On 20 January 2011
the Friends enjoyed their post-Christmas meal in the Taste of China in
Cosham.
Web site
The web site, thanks to John Scott, keeps members up to date with what's
going on in the Porter's Garden at: www.portersgarden.hampshire.org.uk
Volunteers
The Friends have acquired three new volunteers this year. Vince, Raymond
and Nadya have become essential additions to the regular team, while Peter
Stafford has applied himself diligently to mowing the lawn.
Donations
The Friends wish to thank Gill Dawe for continuing to donate plants in
such generous quantities, keeping our Plant Stand stocked with unusual
and beautiful varieties. We also gratefully received a donation of a wheelbarrow
and an electric mower.
Committee
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter’s Garden Committee Friends.
Thanks especially to Pauline Powell for her indefatigable work as Secretary
and to John Scott for updating our beautifully designed and illustrated
website. Also to Cristine as Treasurer, who has kept us fully informed
as to our finances, and is happy to approve Pauline’s spending. Continued
thanks are due to Margaret Judd, Social Secretary, assisted by Val Pennycook,
for arranging interesting garden visits. More thanks are due to the other
Committee members for their valuable input to meetings, and last but not
least to Peter Goodship, Lorraine Carpenter, Karol Jefferies and the PNBPT
staff for their support. We have had much help in the Garden from Peter
Lambert’s Maintenance Team, for which we are very grateful.
The 'Diggers'
To the rest of the 'Diggers', thanks for hundreds of hours spent digging,
watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, historical and horticultural
research, designing, use of petrol to collect plants, emails and telephone
calls, administration, photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
24 March 2011
top of page
2010
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Tenth Annual General Meeting
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust
18 March 2010
Ninth Annual Report
History of familiar plants
Some plants which are familiar in the garden to the Friends were described
by John Gerard (1545-1612) in his Herbal, The Historie of Plants
(1597, enlarged 1633), ‘principally intended for gentlewomen.’ (M Woodward,
ed, Gerard’s Herbal The Historie of Plants (Senate , London, 1994),
xvi.)
Of Pinks, or wild Gillofloures
The double purple Pinke hath manie grassie leaves set upon small jointed
stalkes by couples, one opposite against another, whereupon doe grow pleasant
double purple floures, of a most fragrant small, not inferior to the Clove
Gillofoure: the root is smal and woody. These kindes of Pinkes grow for
the most part in gardens…. These are not used in Physicke, but esteemed
for their use in Garlands and Nosegays. (Woodward, 136-7.)
Of wilde Marjerome
English wilde Marjerome is exceedingly well known to all, to have long,
stiff, and hard stalkes of two cubits high, set with leaves like those
of sweet Marjerome, but broader and greater, of a russet greene colour,
on the top of the branches stand tufts of purple floures, composed of many
small ones set very closely umbell fashion….Organy given in wine is a remedy
against the bitings, and stingings of venomous beasts…. (Woodward, 152.)
Of Fox-Gloves
Fox-Glove with the purple floure is most common; the leaves whereof
are long, nicked in the edges, of a light greene.…the stalke is straight,
from the middle whereof to the top stand the floures, set in a course one
by another upon one side of the stalke, hanging downwards with the bottom
upward, in forme long, like almost to finger stalkes, whereof it took his
name Digitalis, of a red purple colour, with certain white spots
dasht within the floure; after which come up round heads, in which lies
the seed somewhat browne, and as small as that of Time. The roots are many
slender strings. They floure and flourish in June and July. (Woodward,
181-2.)
Of Borage
Borage hath broad leaves, rough, lying flat upon the ground, of a black
or swart green colour: among which riseth up a stalke two cubits high,
divided into divers branches, whereupon do grow blew floures, composed
of five leaves apiece, out of the middle of which grow forth blacke threads
joined in the top, and pointed like a broch or pyramide….Those of our time
do use the floures in sallads, to exhilarate and make the minde glad. There
be also many things made of them, used for the comfort of the heart, to
drive away sorrow, & increase the joy of the minde.
I Borage bring alwaies Courage. (Woodward, 185.)
Of Hops
The Hop doth live and flourish by embracing and taking hold of poles,
pearches, and other things upon which it climeth. It bringeth forth very
long stalkes, rough, and hairie; also rugged leaves broad like those of
the Vine, or rather of Bryony, but yet blacker, and with fewer dented divisions:
the floures hang downe by clusters from the tops of the branches, puffed
up, set as it were with scales like little canes, or scaled Pine apples,
of a whitish colour tending to yellownesse, strong of smell….The Hop joyeth
in a fat and fruitfull ground…The manifold vertues of Hops do manifest
argue the wholesomenesse of beere above ale; for the hops rather make it
a physicall drinke to keep the body in health, than an ordinary drinke
for the quenching of our thirst. (Woodward, 212-3.)
Of Monkes Hoods
Helmet-floure, or the great Monkes-hood, beareth very faire and goodly
blew floures in shape like an Helmet; which are so beautifull, that a man
would thinke they were of some excellent virtue…. (Woodward, 230.)
Pomegranates
Pomegranates, new to the garden in 2009, were grown successfully in
England in the seventeenth century, but did not set fruit. (J Harvey, Restoring
Period Gardens (Shire, Princes Risborough, 1993), 9.) Apropos of re-thinking
of beds for 2011, before the 1770s gardens avoided close planting: ‘early
gardens showed much bare soil between plants and used little or no ground
cover. (Harvey, 19.) From the early eighteenth century formal designs became
more natural, with more emphasis on perfumed flowering plants. More foreign
species were being introduced, an estimated 1,400 by 1700 and 14,000 by
1800. While less was formerly known about town than grand gardens, excavations
and research have revealed more examples of urban designs in the last twenty
years, to inform our future actions. (Harvey, 50, 51, 60, 62.)
Midsummer Garden Party
Held on Sunday 21 June 2009, the Midsummer Garden Party was another
great success and the weather was kind. It was a sunny afternoon for celebrating
the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne. The Lord
Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Terry Hall was pleased to attend and perform
the opening ceremony accompanied by her consort, husband John. Mike
Hall, the Chairman of Hampshire Gardens Trust was also in attendance. Mary
Rose Trust demonstrated coin striking, there was a game of Nine Men’s Morris
for the energetic and there was a surprise visit from the great man himself,
Henry VIII. With a traditional strawberry and scone tea, some additional
Tudor sweetmeats and a delicious fruit punch, a good time was had by all.
For entertainment there was the St Ann’s Handbell Team and Con Brio, a
favourite singing group. Due to the generous support of the Friends,
just over £325.00 profit was made for the garden.
Leaflets
The Porter’s Garden information leaflet has been updated and a new leaflet
produced about the Pique stone and the voyage of HMS Pique across
the Atlantic in 1835. Both are available in the garden.
New in the Garden
A major project came to fruition on 20 March 2009 when the raised garden
was opened by Mike Hall, Chairman of Hampshire Gardens Trust. The extension
was designed by Professor Sir Colin Stansfield Smith and features Breedon
gravel, a flight of granite steps, a double wall bed and five juglans
nigra (Black Walnut) trees. A pomegranate stands at either side of
the steps, and stone tubs feature houseleeks and herbs.
Visits and Events
-
Sunday 19 April 2009 seven Friends visited Bramdean House for an NGS open
day. It is a very attractive traditional 6 acre garden with carpets
of spring bulbs and mirror herbaceous borders.
-
5 May 2009 Dr Ann Coats gave a talk on ‘The Porter and his Garden’ to Wickham
Historical Society, featuring Porter William Woodrow, who retired to Wickham
in 1780.
-
2 June 2009 Wickham Historical Society visited the Garden. Subsequently
Pauline Powell discovered more information about William Woodrow which
was passed on to the Society, creating beneficial two-way knowledge transfer.
-
9 June 2009 Dr Ann Coats gave a talk to Portsmouth Historical Association
on ‘The Dockyard Porter: a Gentleman?’
-
Saturday 13 June 2009, to celebrate 25 years of making a difference, Hampshire
Gardens Trust held an Anniversary Party at Jermyn’s House near Romsey.
Five Friends went along to this splendid evening event with jazz and picnics
in the beautiful grounds of the House.
-
20 July 2009 eight Friends visited Hill Garden and Kenwood House Garden,
both in Hampstead. Hill Garden is an early 19th century garden redesigned
in the early 20th century by Thomas H. Mawson. Its main feature is a wonderful
colonnaded pergola around the west and south sides of the formal garden
in front of its mansion, Inverforth House. They then visited the walled
garden in Kenwood House which was once a kitchen garden but is now laid
out with lawns and flower beds.
-
18 August 2009 the second meeting of the Association of Friends of Hampshire
Gardens took place on at Townhill Park Southampton, attended by Honorary
Secretary Pauline Powell. The first meeting was in March. This forum is
the brainchild of Hampshire Gardens Trust. It is a mutual self-help group
to exchange expertise and information. There are fifteen active groups
in the Association and subsequent meetings will take place at the other
gardens maintained by Friends.
-
23 August 2009 an enjoyable visit was made to Old Alresford House, the
18th century mansion and 35 acres of garden at Old Alresford owned by Mike
Hall, Chairman of the Hampshire Gardens Trust. It was open as part
of the HGT programme of the Celebration Series of Open Gardens. Five
Friends attended with picnics.
-
12 and 13 September 2009 Dr Ann Coats gave fully booked guided tours of
the Porter’s Lodge and garden during Heritage Open Days.
-
22 September 2009 a new venture this year was an autumn lunch which took
place in Boat House 7 Restaurant in the Dockyard on. Nine Friends
enjoyed the occasion.
-
16 December 2009 the Committee enjoyed their Christmas meal together in
the Custom House.
Garden Notes
-
On 9 November 2009 the Yew hedge was cut by TTrees.
-
11 November 2009 a truck load of well rotted manure was delivered and had
a fine time spreading it around the garden. We completed planting
the spring flowering bulbs in late November and are now seeing green shoots
appearing.
-
We were lucky not to sustain any damage during the snowy weather but it
has put things back a little. We did, unfortunately, lose the Strawberry
tree earlier in 2009 due to long term wind damage.
Web site
The web site keeps members up to date with what’s going on in the Porter’s
Garden at: www.portersgarden.hampshire.org.uk
Volunteers
The Friends are still in need of more gardening volunteers. Any
help is welcome. Volunteers are reminded to keep tetanus inoculations up
to date. The protection lasts 10 years.
Donations
The Friends wish to thank Mr & Mrs Brain and Gill Dawe for continuing
to donate plants in such generous quantities, keeping our plant stand stocked
with unusual and beautiful varieties.
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter’s Garden ‘digging’ Friends
Thanks especially to Pauline Powell for her indefatigable work as Secretary
and to John Scott for updating our beautifully designed and illustrated
website. Also to Cristine as Treasurer, who has kept us fully informed
as to our finances, and is happy to approve Pauline’s spending. New thanks
are due to Margaret Judd, Social Secretary, assisted by Val Pennycook,
for arranging interesting garden visits. More thanks to the other Committee
members for their valuable input to meetings, and last but not least to
Peter Goodship, Lorraine Carpenter, Karol Jefferies and the Portsmouth
Naval Base Property Trust staff for their support. We have had much help
in the garden from Peter Lambert’s maintenance team, for which we are very
grateful.
To the rest of the ‘Diggers’, thanks for hundreds of hours spent digging,
watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, historical and horticultural
research, designing, use of petrol to collect plants, emails and telephone
calls, administration, photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
18 March 2010
top of page
2009
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Ninth Annual General Meeting
26 March 2009, 7.30pm
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, 19 College Road, Portsmouth Historic
Dockyard
Eighth Annual Report (amended after the meeting)
'...a love of Plants is a very different thing from a mere love of Flowers. Now that the extreme rage for Bedding-plants is on the wane, there is some chance of a wider range of plants becoming known to, and cultivated by, amateurs, and a deeper knowledge of gardening and plants in use - not merely a surface knowledge, such as is required for the ordinary style of bedding-out Florists' flowers.' (Frances Jane Hope, Notes & Thoughts on Garden and Woodland written chiefly for the amateur (1880), quoted by Jane Brown, The Pursuit of Paradise (HarperCollins, 1999), 120.)
This year, eight years after the Friends began, we have seen the completion of the Porter’s Garden, with the opening of the Raised Garden on 20 March 2009. This takes us from the eighteenth century, with the building of the Porter’s Lodge (1707), to the Victorian period of Boathouse Six (1845). We are planning the tenth anniversary in 2011, with a review of our principles and direction. We shall be thinking about interpreting how each part of the garden contributes to the whole picture.
Having attained this expansion it is apposite to consider our strengths and weaknesses. One of our strengths is the strong presence of women amongst the Friends, following the often forgotten traditional influence of women gardeners. Garden historian Jane Brown traces the contribution of women to gardening lore, partly because of their role as ‘wise women’, gatherers of beneficial herbs and useful wild plants into gardens. Sir Joseph Banks, who accompanied Cook on a plant gathering expedition to the Pacific, first learned the names of flowers from herb women. In the eighteenth century many businesswomen played an active role in running nurseries or, as aristocrats designed their own notable gardens. (Jane Brown, The Pursuit of Paradise (HarperCollins, 1999), 106-11.) But we also fully acknowledge the help of the male Friends.
The nineteenth century Francis Jane Hope also emphasized the benevolence of plants, in particular for those whose sight is impaired, suggesting many plants which could be felt and smelled, and one of our aims is to incorporate as many sensory plants as possible into the garden. She saw plants as benevolent, helping people recovering from illness or melancholy. The Friends can attest to the uplifting and invigorating experience of working in the garden, and the numbers of regular visitors among Dockyard employees bear out its peace and tranquility. (Jane Brown, The Pursuit of Paradise (HarperCollins, 1999), 122-4.) It is also a rare public garden space within the Dockyard and Portsea, one which is still little known within the surrounding community.
We continue to improve the design, to interpret maritime endeavours and plant collecting and to explore a range of planting beyond the limitations of mass-produced hybrids in bedding schemes. We shall also ensure that the Garden is completely organic. We have decided to retain as a permanent feature the herb border that could have been used by the Porter and his family. The website at http://www.portersgarden.hampshire.org.uk continues What’s looking good in the Garden this Month, with photos of what is in bloom and its location in the garden, thanks to John Scott the web master.
Finally, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Porter’s Lodge Jean Flack-Munday has produced a beautiful painting of the garden which is on the website.
Visitors
As well as our resident blackbirds, Pauline has seen a goldcrest and greenfinches this year.
Visits
Margaret Judd’s role as Events Organiser has increased the range of our
visits. Friends attended or visited:
-
13 June 2008 Orchard Close Garden Party
-
21 June 2008 Unusual Plant sale at Gilbert White's House
-
27 June 2008 Earnley Grange (NGS)
-
2 July 2008 Summer Lecture at Gilbert White's House
-
11 July 2008 Hampton Court Flower Show, a splendid and luxurious occasion
thanks to the Humvee limousine and al fresco lunch
-
20 July 2008 Bramdean House (NGS)
-
18 December 2008 our Christmas meal at the Waterfront Brasserie was excellent,
with imaginative stockings. Thanks to Val for choosing and Peter for his
generosity.
Events
-
22 June 2009 our Garden Party was very successful, despite having to move
indoors to Action Stations because of the strong winds. Peter Goldie of
Nauticalia, the Mary Rose Shop, Andrew Bennett of the Antiques Store and
Chris Arkell of the Royal Naval Museum Bookshop generously gave raffle
prizes to boost our funds. St Ann’s Bellringers and the Grammar School
clarinettists provided melody.
-
13/14 September 2008 our Heritage Open Days featured a popular tour of
the Lodge and Garden. It was also captured on film, displayed on our website
-
29 December 2008 we again ran our mulled wine and mince pies stall at the
Dockyard Festival, although the weather was wet and windy and many people
did not know what 'Porter's Noggin' was.
-
20 March 2009 Hampshire Gardens Trust Chairman Mike Hall opened the Raised Garden, designed
by Trustee Sir Colin Stansfield Smith and Property Trust Manager Peter
Lambert, bringing the Victorian Boathouse Six within the full remit of
the Garden.
New in the Garden
The new Raised Garden features Victorian plants which will survive the
fairly exposed site: Juniperus horizontalis, Primula ‘Gold
Lace’, Aubretia, Rosemarinus horizontalis, pink and white
Armeria maritima (sea thrift), ‘Bowles Purple’ wallflowers, hebes
and periwinkles. In the two pots either side of the steps are Pieris,
a Victorian favorite. The whole garden has been united by having its Breeden
gravel renewed.
Talks
Ann gave an illustrated talk to Hampshire Gardens Trust Research Group
on 20 January 2009, raising sales of jam and cards, and increasing our
links with HGT.
Donations
For gifts in 2008-2009 the Friends wish to thank Mr & Mrs Brain for
continuing to donate plants in such generous quantities, which keep our
plant stand stocked with unusual and beautiful varieties.
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter’s Garden ‘digging’ Friends
Thanks especially to Pauline Powell for her indefatigable work as Secretary
and to John Scott for updating our beautifully designed and illustrated
website. Also to Cristine as Treasurer, who has kept us fully informed
as to our finances, and is happy to approve Pauline’s spending. More thanks
to the other Committee members for their valuable input to meetings, and
last but not least to Peter Goodship, Lorraine Carpenter, Karol Jefferies
and the PNBPT staff for their support. We have had much help in the Garden
from Peter Lambert’s Maintenance Team, for which we are very grateful.
To the rest of the ‘Diggers’, thanks for hundreds of hours spent digging,
watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, historical and horticultural
research, designing, use of petrol to collect plants, emails and telephone
calls, administration, photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
26 March 2009
top of page
2008
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Eighth Annual General Meeting
24 April 2008, 7.30pm
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, 19 College Road, Portsmouth Historic
Dockyard
Seventh Annual Report
In March, and in Aprill, fro morning to night:
In sowing and setting, good housewives delight.
To have in their gardein, or some other plot
To trim up their house, and to furnish their pot.
Visitors
Greenfinches have been seen and a wren is almost a resident as is ‘our’
(probably) blackbird. Gill Dawe reported that a tame white dove visited
the garden and took crumbs from Chris Lovatt’s hand. We have also
had pied wagtails.
Volunteers had a chat with three visitors who used to work at Pembroke
Dock and remembered Warrior being used there as a storage vessel.
Visits
The Friends visited the Rare Plant Sale at Selborne on 17 June 2007, Highdown
Gardens on 15 August 2007. They attended the Orchard Close Garden Party
on 22 June 2007 and the HGT talk on West Dean through the Seasons at Petersfield
Physic Garden (MJ and PEP) on 2 April 2008. On 10 February 2008, PEP, John
Scott and cousins, MJ and a friend and PH visited Brandy Mount for the
snowdrops.
Events
On 1 December 2007 the Friends enjoyed running their stall at the Festival
of Christmas, serving up Cristine’s mulled wine recipe and mince pies.
After a shaky start (it was too far back from the main drag), the stall
was dragged nearer by stalwart helpers (Peter Lambert’s team) and they
never looked back. They had to send out for more supplies and made a handsome
sum by the time the weather closed in. Apart from having to be imprisoned
in their stall (to stop the door blowing open) and getting back ache from
bending over the mulled wine pot it was an enjoyable few hours of slicing,
simmering and banter.
On 13 December 2007 the PG Christmas party was held in the Taste
of China in Cosham, an inspired choice by PEP and the food was excellent.
Thanks to Peter Goodship for his generosity.
At our Midsummer Garden Party on 22 June 2007 the Friends once more
excelled themselves in producing superb cream teas and their famous fruit
punch, served by China Rose and Aislinn. It was opened by Deputy Lord Mayor
Robin Sparshatt and Deputy Lady Mayoress Mrs Felicity Sparshatt. Councillor
Terry Hall also attended. Weather well and truly assailed us, but Frank
Nowosielski and his staff in Action Stations coped with the influx of 80-odd
guests superbly. Peter Goldie of Nauticalia, the Mary Rose Shop and Chris
Arkell of the Royal Naval Museum Bookshop generously gave raffle prizes
to boost sales of our raffle tickets. Con Brio singers, continuing our
anti-slave trade theme of the year, projected spirituals brilliantly in
the enclosed space.
This year, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Porter’s Lodging
and the tenth anniversary of starting to plan the garden, our new feature
is a border of herbs that could have been used by the Porter and his family
designed by Friends Gill Dawe, Margaret Judd and Pauline Powell. Ann is
attempting to pinpoint the exact date of the building of the Porter’s Lodge
in the National Archive.
New in the Garden
A new botanic illustration of Prunus cerasus - Morello cherry - was made
by June Mary Huckerby from Bentley in Yorkshire during her visit to the
Porter's Garden on a lovely day in June 2007. It will be made into a card.
Our jars of Morello cherry jam and chutney are now enhanced by our own
label featuring Morello cherries and our web address.
The website now has a new address http://www.portersgarden.hampshire.org.uk
and a new feature: What’s looking good in the Garden this Month.
Each month we post photos of what is in bloom and looking good and give
its location in the garden. Our thanks to John Scott the web master.
Two more old Cotswold stone troughs, one D-shaped and one rectangular,
were bought to partner our previous two, from the same supplier, delivered
on 26 March 2008.
Jean Flack-Munday is sketching and roughing out two or three ideas for
a 300th anniversary painting of the garden.
A giant subtropical Echium pininana is growing in the William III bed.
One self-seeded near BH6 Cinema but was ‘weeded’.
Development of the BH6 area has been an ongoing development. Discussions
were held with the Trustee architects in summer 2007, the Friends suggesting
a pergola, replacement railings for BH6 and cypress trees. None of these
ideas were taken up. Instead Sir Colin Stansfield Smith has designed some
steps and more walnut trees will extend the current planting along the
road. A container will grow greenery trailing over the new retaining wall
running down to the mast pond, and Peter Goodship is hopeful of obtaining
an interesting engineering feature for display in the open space.
Sickness in the Garden (Phyllis Heard and Pauline Powell) reduced the
workforce somewhat, and Margaret Judd had an extended holiday to Mexico
and Jamaica. But we have gained new Friends Joan Munro and volunteer Angie
Stafford.
Talks
Ann gave illustrated talks at the Maritime Club to the Portsmouth Association
of Wrens on 10 July and to the Friends of Old Portsmouth Association in
the Square Tower on 16 July 2007, making £50 in fees and sales of
jam and cards.
Gardening Tips
-
Slugs and snails avoid seaweed, so spread it around your vulnerable plants.
It also acts as mulch.
-
To deter black fly spray a concoction of simmered crushed artemesia with
washing up liquid (to make it stick to the leaves).
Donations
For gifts in 2006-2007 the Friends wish to thank
Mr & Mrs Brain for continuing to donate plants in such generous
quantities, which keep our Plant Stand stocked with unusual and beautiful
varieties.
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter’s Garden ‘digging’ Friends
Thanks especially to Pauline Powell for her indefatigable work as Secretary
and to John Scott for updating our beautifully designed and illustrated
website. Also to Cristine as Treasurer, who has kept us fully informed
as to our finances, and is happy to approve Pauline’s spending. More thanks
to the other Committee members for their valuable input to meetings, and
last but not least to Peter Goodship, Lorraine Carpenter, Karol Jefferies
and the PNBPT staff for their support. We have had much help in the Garden
from Peter Lambert’s Maintenance Team, for which we are very grateful.
Both the Strawberry and the Judas Tree were blown over in gales this winter
but seem to have survived and are now staked with their help.
To the rest of the ‘Diggers’, thanks for hundreds of hours spent digging,
watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, historical and horticultural
research, designing, use of petrol to collect plants, emails and telephone
calls, administration, photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
24 April 2008
top of page
2007
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Seventh Annual General Meeting
17 April 2007, 7.30pm
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, 19 College Road, Portsmouth
Historic Dockyard
Sixth Annual Report
Wurts
Every month hath his name
To set and sow without any blame
May for summer is all the best
July for harvest is the next
November for winter must the third be
Mars for lent so may I thrive...
...And so from month to month
Thou shalt bring thy wurtes forth.
J Uglow, A Little History of British Gardening (Chatto &
Windus , 2004), 53
This year has seen new members adding fresh ideas and contributing valuable
work and knowledge. Wildlife seen
in the garden includes a wren and our resident blackbirds. A blue tit was
observed on the Judas Tree recently (which flowered twice this year), a
greenfinch in the walnut trees and wagtails on several occasions.
At our Midsummer Garden party on 25 June 2006 our home made food was
enhanced by ice cream kindly donated by Minghella Ice Cream and our famous
fruit punch. Peter Goldie of Nauticalia, the Mary Rose Shop and Chris Arkell
of the Royal Naval Museum Bookshop generously gave raffle prizes to boost
sales of our raffle tickets. Con Brio singers sang and the Webb & West
Jazz Duo, Vincent and Ben from Portsmouth Grammar School, played hazy summer
music.
The Friends held a Plant sale at the Christmas Festival. It was more
profitable than previous Festivals, but still not really worth our time.
They also manned a stall throughout the day at the very successful Volunteers'
Fair on 22 February in Boathouses 4 and 6, Val and Ann being interviewed
on Community Radio. The Donations Box is still gratefully receiving useful
sums.
As a new venture at Christmas 2007 ten Friends attended a Dinner at
the Pizza House. It was thoroughly enjoyable and a nice way to end the
year. The Property Trust featured a photo of our berried holly tree on
their Christmas card: 'The holly bears a berry...', which was also included
in Ditty Do, the Naval Base Newsletter.
Visits
On 27 April 2006 Margaret Judd and Pauline Powell attended a reception at
the House of Lords held by Onyx Environmental trust as a thank you for
their grant recipients.
On Sunday 18 June 2006, three Friends of the Porter's Garden committee
and an accompanying friend visited the Unusual Plants Fair at Gilbert White's
House in Selborne, Hampshire. There were about 40 exhibitors and a dazzling
array of unusual plants. The visit proved very educational with many opportunities
to purchase superb and interesting plants. The Fair is held every year
and is well worth attending. www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk
On 6 September 2006, five Friends of the Porter's Garden committee visited
Denmans Garden, near Fontwell, West Sussex. It was an evening visit; part
of the Yellow Book Gardens Open for Charity programme. The Friends happily
wandered around the four-acre garden with a glass of wine on a beautiful
September evening, enjoying some unusual plants. They purchased plants
for the Garden and for themselves from the well-stocked nursery.
On 27 September 2006, two Friends of the Porter's Garden committee attended
a Plantsman's Day at Bury Court, Bentley, near Farnham. There was a conducted
tour around the walled garden designed by Piet Oudolf and the front garden
designed by Christopher Bradley-Hole. The pergola has inspired our own
design for a pergola near Boathouse Six.
New in the Garden
Highlights of the summer of 2006 were our two giant subtropical Echium
pininanas. They were donated to us in 2004 as seedlings and had taken
a while to reach their height of 12 feet in full bloom. Also known as the
'Tower of Jewels' or 'Pride of Tenerife', their flower spikes were festooned
with purple-blue, funnel-shaped flowers. After flowering the plants died,
but we are now waiting to see if they scattered their seeds. Native to
the Canary Islands, they are common in Cornwall, the Scilly Isles and Ireland.
They may be seen locally in the Crescent Garden, Alverstoke and on the
Isle of Wight.
Among our latest purchases are a wooden water butt and a sandstone bird
bath, intended to help out with the watering and to improve the facilities
for our bird visitors. The bird bath was set in place on 18 October 2006,
surrounded by a new bed planted with spring bulbs. It has been much enjoyed
by our bird visitors. To ease the volunteers' workload we purchased a shredder,
a grass trimmer and a hedge cutter. We recently completed the planting
up of a stone trough with a collection of sempervivums, finished off with
golden gravel. It looks very fine on the step in front of Boathouse Six.
We have also added trellis to the Shady Bed for two evergreen honeysuckle
plants to add colour, height, interest and scent and added pine cone finials
to the Cardoon stakes.
On 15 February 2007 the Strawberry Tree, which had its first strawberry
fruits in 2006, was pruned by John Scott. Due to strong prevailing winds
from the south west, it needed two thirds of growth to be removed, mainly
from the leeward side, to even up its shape. It has also been staked to
counteract future winds and encourage it to grow upright.
The recently re-designed Porter's Back Garden, created by the 'digging'
Friends led by Margaret Judd, is a small space of simplicity, charm and
tranquillity. Composed of golden gravel and punctuated with welsh slate,
drift wood, rocks and ferns, the mossy flagstones arched over by a canopy
of sweet smelling jasmine lead to a door to the Porter's Lodge.
This year our new feature was the Anti-Slave Trade Border, opened on
Sunday 25 March 2007. Forty guests joined the Friends in celebrating this
acknowledgment that in the 21st century all people must be free and equal.
They stood facing a display of replica manacles set off by red, navy and
gold ribbons. The colour red symbolises the blood of the Africans, gold
the sugar, tobacco and sun, and navy the Royal Navy. The planting scheme
will feature tobacco Nicotiana Tabacum, sugar cane Saccharum
officinarum, crops grown on the plantations, the dahlia Bishop of Llandaff
(red flowers and black foliage), gold lace primulas (dark red laced with
gold), red Pasque flowers, black iris and black grasses and cowslips. As
it was too cold in March to plant the tobacco, sugar cane and Bishop Llandaff,
they will be planted for our Garden Party in June when the weather is warmer.
The border was designed by Friends Margaret Judd and Pauline Powell.
Dr Colin White, Director of the Royal Naval Museum, whose exhibition,
'Chasing Freedom - The Royal Navy and the Suppression of the Transatlantic
Slave Trade', began on 3 February 2007, opened the Border. Alisa Vanlint
of the 2nd Augustan Legion Living History Society, dressed as an enslaved
Roman farm worker, presented 'The Origins of Slavery', which showed that
many elements of what we think of as African slavery have been present
since prehistoric times, to deny people their identity and freedom. Simon
Vanlint was dressed as an American plantation overseer, his costume inspired
by an American banknote. Anne Carpenter from the Anti-Slavery Organisation
said that we must not think that slavery is something elsewhere and in
the past, it still exists in Britain today. Marie Costa of the African
Women's Forum ended the ceremony by saying that slavery in the Americas
only ended when it was no longer economically profitable. She believed
today would be the start of a new awareness of individual freedom and dignity:
'We can only be free when all people are free.' Afterwards everyone
warmed up with a cup of tea.
The Bury Court pergola has inspired our thinking for an iron pergola
near Boathouse Six. Peter Clutterbuck, designer blacksmith of Southsea,
has produced a concept design of a pergola based on the design of the beams
within the Boathouse. The design is being discussed by the Friends and
the Trustees.
Donations
For gifts in 2006-2007 the Friends wish to thank:
-
Michael Howell who donated a very useful step ladder and measuring tape
and
-
Trustee Terry Hall who donated attractive plant pots for bulb planting;
-
Mr & Mrs Brain for donating plants in such generous quantities, which
keep our plant stand stocked with unusual and beautiful varieties: a total
of 113 plants for our Garden Party included a walnut tree, bonsai Cotoneaster,
28 zantedeschia aethiopica, hellebores, 6 aloe vera; and
-
Portsmouth City Council which has supported the garden generously from
the beginning with funds, expertise and plants.
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter's Garden 'digging' Friends
Thanks especially to Pauline Powell for her indefatigable work as Secretary
and to her and John Scott for updating our beautifully laid out and illustrated
website. To Cristine, as Treasurer, who has kept us fully informed as to
our finances, and occasionally questions us when we want to spend money,
but not often. Thanks also to the other Committee members for their valuable
input to meetings, and last but not least to Peter Goodship, Lorraine Carpenter
and the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust staff for their financial support and helpful attention.
To the rest of the 'Diggers' thanks for hundreds of hours spent digging,
watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, historical and horticultural
research, designing, petrol used to collect plants, emails and telephone
calls, administration, photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
top of page
2006
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Sixth Annual General Meeting
25 April, 2006, 7.30pm
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, 19 College Road, Portsmouth
Historic Dockyard
Fifth Annual Report
Who can blend usefulness and sweetness wins every
Vote, at once delighting and teaching the reader
As urged in Horace's poetry, the right proportion between the useful and
the beautiful was much debated in eighteenth century garden design. (Ars
Poetica, 343-344)
This last year has seen a subtle change in our membership, with some
original members like Jean Flack Munday, and Charlotte Frost and John Gunn,
who gave so much of their time and expertise, leaving. Taking their place,
new members are adding new ideas and contributing valuable work and knowledge.
In particular, Kay Gilmore contributed an article about the Garden which
the Portsmouth Friends of the Earth published in full in their February
Newsletter. A note also appeared in the Portsea Post. Further publicity
and funds were obtained from Ann Coats' talk to the Cosham Conservative
Ladies Luncheon Club on 11 January. Gill Dawe was instrumental in the purchase
and release of 200 Lumbricus terrestris worms for the benefit of
the William III bed. Other wildlife in the garden included a wren and of
course, our resident blackbirds.
2005 was busy for the Dockyard and the Porter's Garden because it was
Trafalgar 200, the Year of the Sea, with 1 million visitors (P Goodship
24 April). The Nelson Border in the Porter's Garden, whose opening launched
Trafalgar 200 in 2005, flowered beautifully all through the summer. The
violas were cut back in late August to produce a second flush for 21 October
2005, the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
New in the Garden
Our three granite seats were installed on 24 May, the fruit of three years
of research and planning by Jean Flack Munday and Pauline Powell and careful
attention by the sculptor, Roger Stephens throughout, completed after the
Friends were awarded £11,000 by Onyx Environmental Trust. Our Knot
Garden was finally completed with the addition of four standard holly bushes
on 21 June. In the last year we have benefited from a plant sales stand,
made by John Gunn, who also installed a Red Mason Bee nest box, an interpretation
board designed by Dick Davis, an updated brochure, seven new wooden tubs
and three antique Cotswold stone tubs and in May two new oak benches hand
made by Paul Pinnington. In addition, Michael Howell donated and fixed
up our Blue Tit nest box and drilled and added some more rows of wire to
support the Morello Cherries which are growing apace. Lights have now been
provided for the potting shed, courtesy of Mark Meatcher and the Mary Rose
Trust.
In 2005 we had a more ambitious Midsummer Garden Party than usual: a
Soirée, which although was great fun and delicious and as well attended
as ever, did not make so much money as the Strawberry Teas, and involved
the Friends in much more work. Con Brio gave us some rousing sea shanties
and St Ann's Hand Bell Ringers provided beautiful music too. Roger Stephens
and his wife were our special guests and the Sculptured Seats and Knot
Garden were formally opened by Tom Blair, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth,
with children from St George's Beneficial School and Meon First School,
who had taken part in the competition to design the Knot Garden.
This year our new feature was the Brunel Border, designed by Margaret
Judd in the colours of Brunel's great ships (black Ophiopogon planiscapus
and white and red pansies). 2006 is the bicentenary of the birth of Isambard
Kingdom Brunel, our great nineteenth century engineer, in Portsea. It was
opened on 9 April Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Councillor Robin Sparshatt,
who cut through coloured ribbons and ceremonially watered the border. He
also unveiled our plaque for best landscape garden from the Portsmouth
Society.
Visits
The Friends had an extremely interesting and enjoyable visit to Prince
Charles's estate and garden at Highgrove House on 1st August, eagerly awaited
for over two years. Gill Jarrett presented a pot of our cherry jam (we
do not know if HRH enjoyed it), but we were thanked. On 19 August they
visited Selborne, the eighteenth century garden of Gilbert White, the first
naturalist to study nature in situ, which had some very exciting points
of similarity with our garden. We also enjoyed a fascinating tour of the
Porter's Lodge cellar on 5 November, complete with wine and apple racks.
Donations
For gifts in 2005-2006 the Friends wish to thank
-
Mr & Mrs Brain for donating plants in such generous quantities, which
keep our plant stand stocked with unusual and beautiful varieties.
-
Michael Howell for donating a new wheelbarrow.
-
John and Jennifer Wright, visitors to the garden kindly donated £10.00.
-
Portsmouth City Council, which has supported the garden generously from
the beginning with funds, expertise and plants.
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter's Garden 'digging' Friends
Thanks especially to Pauline Powell for her indefatigable work as Secretary.
As Jean Flack-Munday writes (1 April):
'Nothing but good news from the Porter's Garden. Particularly
pleasing is the [Onyx Environmental Trust] invitation to the House of Lords
[Thursday 27 April]. Few projects are completed on time and within budget.
I think Pauline deserves a medal, for her skills in guiding the project
through.'
To Cristine, as Treasurer, who has kept us fully informed as to our finances,
and occasionally questions us when we want to spend money, but not often.
Thanks also to the other committee members for their valuable input to
meetings, and last but not least to Peter Goodship, Lorraine Carpenter
and the PNBPT staff for their financial support and helpful attention and
for Peter's excellent barbecue in June. To the rest of the 'diggers' thanks
for 771 hours spent digging, watering, propagating, composting, lawn care,
historical and horticultural research, designing, petrol used to collect
plants, emails and telephone calls, administration, photographs, plants,
tools, fertiliser and sundries.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
25 April 2006
top of page
2005
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Fifth Annual General Meeting
April 26, 2005, 7.30pm
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, 19 College Road, Portsmouth Historic
Dockyard
Fourth Annual Report
Landmarks
17-18 July 2004 Gardens in the City
Despite visitors expecting more garden displays and the Porter's Garden
to be bigger, we had a lot of interest, sold a lot of plants and took four
tours around the Garden. It was a very happy atmosphere.
20 June 2004 Annual Garden Party
It did not go quite the same as the previous year. Collecting
crockery from St Ann's verger before the party, Pauline warned me that
she was losing it: sure enough, in negotiating a stiff fire door, she did
lose grip of a box of cups & saucers. It did not sound good when it
happened, nor when we picked up the box. Skilfully hiding the occurrence
from the verger, who was in a nearby room, we did not check until Pauline
was washing up the crockery later, when she found that only 1 saucer had
been broken.
On 19th June Pauline, Eileen and Ann were picking strawberries at Bedhampton
and almost decided to go elsewhere because they were so scarce, but then
worked out that we had nearly picked the required amount (all of us being
severely arithmetically challenged) and needed only more box to complete
our total. Amazingly, ripe strawberries suddenly seemed to be everywhere,
as though they had ripened in a matter of 20 minutes. We can only attribute
these miracles to St Ann.
However this good luck did not last long enough to see us through the
garden party itself. After everything had been laid out beautifully the
weather got too windy and cold and we made a last minute switch to the
top floor of Boathouse Six, Friends and guests all helping to take up plates
and food. The picture I wish I had photographed was Peter wheeling a wheelbarrow
full of crockery into the top floor of Boathouse Six, grinning. Everyone
was eventually fed and watered and entertained by Con Brio and had a wonderful
view looking down on the Garden.
Onyx Environmental Trust Reports sent by Pauline Powell
17 June 2004
-
Having been awarded the sum of £11,000.00, the project start date
was 10 June 2004, estimated completion date 10 June 2005.
-
Meeting with chosen Stonemason/Sculptor in the Garden 1 June 2004. He will
go down to the quarry in Cornwall within the next two weeks to discuss
details
-
He is presently selecting the material which will be used to produce the
seats.
-
Sent out the letters and information pack to schools re the Knot Garden
competition
-
Children from one of the schools visited the Garden today (17 June) to
view the garden and where the Knot Garden will be made.
18 September 2004
-
Achieved installation and payment for the 18th Century urns. Children from
St George's Beneficial School helped fill them with compost ready for planting.
-
There have been problems with agreeing the contract with the sculptor/stonemason.
These have now been resolved and the contract signed (17 September). A
date for collecting the granite for transport to Cornwall will be arranged
next week. The completion date for the sculptured seats project has been
revised to Easter 2005. I believe they will be finished before then.
-
We have maintained contact with St George's School who are designing our
knot garden. The children visited the garden again on 13 July and helped
with transplanting and collecting seeds. We gave them plants to take back
to their school garden. We have lost another competitor but may have found
another. The designs are due in by the end of November.
-
We have drafted a design for the information boards and found a contact
who will do the art work for the sign maker.
-
We raised £600.00 at two events in the dockyard, and displayed the
Onyx logo.
18 December 2004
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Knot Garden designs were received by the end of November and judged by
a panel of the Friends of the Porter's Garden on 13 December 2004. The
designs were judged on the basis of symmetry, historical/horticultural
appropriateness and practicality of realisation. First and Second prize
designs have been chosen, prizes will be awarded early in 2005.
-
Seeds were sown for the knot garden.
-
There have been problems with cranage in the Dockyard due to an accident
with a crane and Health and Safety issues. These have now been resolved
and the granite has been collected together in a convenient place ready
for collection and transport to Cornwall. The granite will be transported
soon after the 4th January 2005 when the quarry re-opens after the holiday.
The completion date for the sculptured seats project may have to be revised
to shortly after Easter 2005.
-
Obtained up to date estimates for the production of an information/interpretation
panel. We have decided to go for only one panel as prices have escalated
since our first estimates were obtained 2/3 years ago.
-
Obtained the Onyx Environmental Trust plaque.
17 March 2005
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On 13 January 2005, certificates were awarded to the competition winners
for their knot garden designs and a packet of seeds was given to each child
who contributed a design. A plant encyclopaedia was awarded to the schools
for their libraries on 22 February 2005.
-
A composite design was produced from the first and second prize designs
for creation of the knot garden. This has now been modified and will be
the final planting pattern.
-
The knot garden was been marked up on the chosen lawn site and deep dug
out as there was hard core underlying the grass and topsoil. The site will
be back-filled with enriched soil, and planted up when the fully prepared
site has settled.
-
The stones were transported to the quarry in Cornwall on 5 January 2005
for profiling and returned to the sculptor in Salisbury on 28 February
2005. He is now working on the sculptured seats and his completion date
has been revised to mid May 2005. The final installation of the seats in
the Garden is expected to be by mid June 2005.
-
A first draft of the information/interpretation panel will be presented
to the Friends of the Porter's Garden on 21 March 2005. There has been
some delay on the panel design as the current garden layout was being researched
by the artist. This took more time than anticipated.
-
The Onyx Environmental Trust plaque has been installed.
New in the Garden
21 March 2005. The Nelson Border was opened by Dr Colin White of
Royal Naval and National Maritime Museums. The two winners of the Knot
Garden competition attended.
21 April 2005. The Breedon Gravel was laid, making the
whole garden look wider and defining each element more distinctly. It is
a beautiful soft colour. The Nelson Border is now in full flower and frames
that lawn bed clearly.
Thanks
As well as the thanks expressed below I would like to express particular
gratitude to Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust for funding us, Chief
Executive Peter Goodship, Design Manager Lorraine Carpenter and their office
staff for administrative support, Karol Jeffrey for certifying our accounts
and Property Manager Mark Meatcher for overall care. On the Friends committee,
my especial thanks to Pauline Powell for managing the Onyx Environmental
Trust grant, ordering and distributing bulbs and seeds and keeping on top
of everything; Eileen Brooks for keeping the books and introducing new
ideas; John Scott for maintaining our web page; John Gunn for keeping our
lawn and hedges beautiful and Charlotte Frost for attendance through wind
and rain and for constantly finding new ways to advertise the Garden; Margaret
Judd and Christine Kervin for managing the Nelson Border from start to
finish. Liz Stoner for cherries pruning & tying in 17 June 2004 and
pruning the Lime Trees on 27 October 2004.
Donations
For gifts in 2004-2005 the Friends wish to thank Mr & Mrs Brain for
plants for Gardens in the City Sat 17-Sun 18 July 2004.
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter's Garden 'digging' Friends:
For digging, watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, hurdle cutting
and weaving, historical and horticultural research, petrol used to collect
plants, emails and telephone calls, administration, photographs, plants,
tools, fertiliser and sundries.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
26 April, 2005
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2004
Friends of the Porter's Garden
Fourth Annual General Meeting
4 May, 2004, 7.30pm
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, 19 College Road, Portsmouth Historic
Dockyard
Third Annual Report
When, thou shalt visit, in the Moneth of May,
A costly Garden, in her best array;
And, view the well-grown Trees, the wel-trimm'd Bowers,
The Beds of Herbs, the knots of pleasant flowers,
With all the deckings, and the fine devices,
Perteyning to those earthly Paradises,
Thou canst not well suppose, one day, or two,
Did finish all, which had beene, there, to doe.
...by this Emblem, now perhaps, be brought,
Perswade thee to consider, that, no actions,
Can come, but by degrees, to their perfections....
(George Wither, 'Emblemes', 1635, in John Hordern, ed, English Emblem
Books, no 12, Scolar Press, 1968, p 107)
A garden is 'a Monopolie of al the pleasure and delights
that are on the earth, amassed togeather'.
(Iain Fletcher, ed, H[enry]. H[awkins]. Partheneia Sacra, 1633,
1950, p11)
Progress
Our third year in operation has become less intensive physically and has
taken on more administrative and interpretative aspects. We are continuing
to introduce new plants, but managing its seasonal régimes has fallen
into a more regular pattern. However, one strenuous job was the cutting
and weaving of a new main hurdle as a salt and wind break. As well as maintenance
funds supplied by the Property Trust, we have moved from raising other
money through car boot sales and to our very successful built-in donations
box and on-site plant sales.
Landmarks
At our Strawberry Tea Garden Party on 22 June 2003 we fed around 100 guests
while acapella Con Brio entertained them. We made a profit of over £500,
enabling us to pay our share of the second wrought iron garden gate. Although
this involved a day picking 88 pounds of strawberries (not unpleasant!)
and a few hours making scones, this formula seems to have hit the jackpot.
Publicity has been increased through coverage of our events by the News,
articles in Solent Forum newsletter Solent News, 16, (Spring 2004)
and First Base newsletter, and of course on BBC South Radio Solent's
popular gardening programme, Topsoil, which on 28 February broadcast
an interview (recorded on 11 February) with Pauline and Ann and composting
hints from Charlotte. Alan Titchmarsh was in the garden, attracting about
40 people, to publicise the Mary Rose rose on 11 October. Our web site
has been updated by John Scott and we now have a donation box in the wall
under the distinctive sign provided by the dockyard support group. Ann
gave a talk on 'Portmouth Dockyard Porter and the Porter's Garden' to Portsmouth
Horticultural Society at Hilsea on 10 September, a thoroughly enjoyable
evening which has led to further bookings. On 21 February we visited St
Ann's Church (built 1785-1787), to advise the congregation on ways to redesign
their own eighteenth century garden. On 4 April Councillor Elaine Baker
unveiled a plaque to mark her opening of the garden in 2001 during her
term as Mayor, and her continuing support. She and June Parkinson also
planted our latest acquisition, a Koelreuteria paniculata (Pride
of India), gift from Mrs Gilly Drummond of Hampshire Gardens Trust. Sculptor
Roger Stephens brought his designs for the new garden seats, and was able
to review his plan now we have the grant from Onyx under its landfill tax
rebate scheme. On 27 February we gave about 60 Solent Forum delegates garden
leaflets and some came for a short walk through a very wet garden.
To continue learning from other gardens we visited Exbury Gardens
and Cadland Gardens on Sunday 11 May 2003 and Hillier's Arboretum on Saturday
7 February 2004. We continue to liaise with Greenfingers horticultural
centre at St James's to provide a learning context for their students and
support for us. On 23 October their students helped split and replant the
cardoons and plant the step-over apples. We have also gained the regular
expertise of Iain Barnes, who joined us last autumn, and has been regular
and helpful. Trained professionally at Cadlington House and Stansted Park,
he became an honorary Friend earlier this year.
Thanks to Pauline's determination our Land Fill grant application has
been successful, so sculptor Roger Stephens' designs for the new garden
seats are now much nearer to being realised. We were also awarded £900
from the Community Chest Children's Fund to develop our knot garden and
eighteenth century pots. We shall liaise with St George's School Portsea
and three other schools.
We have lost Sally Hocking to Canada for at least three years, but not
as a Friend. Sadly Mrs Helene Burroughs, a Friend who was born in Long
Row in the Dockyard and played on the garden site as a child and had recently
returned to the area, died on 1 March. She and her husband attended our
garden party last year.
Our horticultural work was again recognised by being awarded a 1st Prize
in the Most Attractive Historic Garden section by Portsmouth & Southsea
in Bloom judges in November 2003. Other rewarding moments include seeing
blackbirds nesting in one of the cardoons and eventually producing young
(we hope) in their third nest in the farthest cherry tree. In August Pauline
saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the Garden around the pink turtle heads in
the lawn bed.
New in the Garden
In the square lawn: crocus and fritilliary bulbs sown in the grass for
early spring interest; two rosa officinalis (gallica), one Shailer's white
moss and one 'Petite de Hollande' roses; a Pride of India tree, Koelreuteria
paniculata, in the centre to give flowers in spring, shade in the summer
and seed cases in the autumn.
William III bed: Camelia rubra imbricata, winter aconites in
front of the box hedge
Along top box hedge: blue squills and both box hedges yellow meconopsis
Lawn bed: two Hunthouse stepover apple trees; various alliums
Strawberry tree bed: Primula vulgaris
Woodland bed: Primula x polyantha 'Gold Lace'
Thanks
As well as the thanks expressed below I would like to express particular
gratitude to Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust for funding us, Chief
Executive Peter Goodship, Design Manager Lorraine Carpenter and their office
staff for administrative support, Karol Jeffrey for certifying our accounts
and Property Manager Mark Meatcher for overall care. On the Friends committee,
my thanks to Pauline Powell especially for achieving the Onyx Environmental
Trust grant of £11,000, taking over bulb and seed ordering and distribution
and keeping track of the detail; Jean Flack-Munday and Henry Munday for
their careful husbandry of the books and Eileen Brooks for volunteering
to take them over and introducing our monthly Diary of tasks and planting
ideas; Sally Hocking, Pauline, Jean and Gill Jarrett for steadfastly 'manning'
our sales pitch at Craneswater School and Southsea Common; John Scott for
maintaining our web page; John Gunn for keeping our lawn beautiful and
Charlotte Frost (our 'compost queen').
Donations
For gifts in 2003-2004 the Friends wish to thank
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust for an annual grant of £750.00
Conbrio, for entertaining our guests at the Strawberry Tea for no charge
(just lots of strawberries)
Pat and John Cheetham for an oak half tub
Portsmouth City Councillor Elaine Baker for £176.25 to have the
plaque carved
Alex and Rosemary Hazlerigg for the slate slab for the plaque
Mrs Gilly Drummond for Koelreuteria paniculata (Pride of India)
Staunton Park for hazel hurdles in exchange for coppicing work
David Austin Roses Ltd for two rosa officinalis (gallica), one Shailer's
white moss and one 'Petite de Hollande' roses
R V Roger Ltd for various replacement bulbs
Mr and Mrs Brain for propagating unusual plants for sale
Gilly Drummond and June Parkinson of Hampshire Gardens Trust for their
continuing support
Roger Young of Portsmouth City Council Parks Department for plants,
practical support and advice
Greenfingers, St James's Hospital Milton, for advice and help
Peter Goldie, manager of Nauticalia, Jacquie Shaw of the Mary
Rose Trust and Chris Arkell, manager of the Royal Naval Museum Bookshop
for Garden Party raffle prizes.
Friends of the Porter's Garden whose subscriptions have helped us throughout
the year
Most importantly, thanks to the Porter's Garden 'digging' Friends:
For digging, watering, propagating, composting, lawn care, hurdle cutting
and weaving, historical and horticultural research, petrol used to collect
plants from Hampshire and Sussex, emails and telephone calls, administration,
photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser and sundries. At least 719.50 person
hours were donated 6 May 2003 - 3 May 2004.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
4 May, 2004
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2003
The Friends of the Porter's Garden
Third Annual General Meeting
8 May, 2003, 7.30pm
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, 19 College Road, Portsmouth Historic
Dockyard
Second Annual Report
-
'Congruity of style, uniformity of character, and harmony of parts with
the whole, are different modes of expressing unity, without which
no composition can be perfect.' Humphrey Repton.
-
Gardening 'is easy, quiet and such as puts neither the Body nor Mind into
those violent Agitations or precipitate and imminent Dangers that many
other Exercises (in themselves very warrantable) do.' Stephen Switzer.
Progress
Our second year was not so back-breaking as the first, but was still intensive.
We had to repair the damage caused by the flood in William III, replacing
the sage and lavender which could not cope with the prolonged wet. We also
introduced new plants: Mary Rose clematis and Mary Rose rose.
We continued our two hour daily watering régime during the summer
months, helped by 'leaky' hoses during the night. We have removed the hurdles
which served as salt windbreaks this year as they were disintegrating.
We plan to make new ones this autumn, encouraged by our attempts at making
four 'wigwams' to support plants. Our rare Leptospermum, raised
from seed sent by Auckland Botanic Gardens to Gilly Drummond of Cadland
House, is thriving in the potting shed bed, as are three Mary Rose
clematis. As well as funds supplied by the Property Trust, we have raised
money through sales of plants and bric à brac at Craneswater School
car boot sales. Our previous problem of lawn care has been resolved by
John Gunn's assiduous attention.
Landmarks
In June 2002 we visited Alverstoke Crescent Garden and in July 2002 Beth
Chatto's garden and Priory Garden in Hatfield Peverel, both in Essex, to
learn more about planting possibilities. On 20 July 2002 at our Tudor Garden
Party 100 guests were fed by Mr O'Hagan's delicious Hog Roast, entertained
by the Cantalena Singers and the Purbrook Bowmen. Jean had made jam from
our morello cherries for raffle prizes.
Our hard work was recognised by being awarded a 1st Prize
in the Most Attractive Historic Garden section by Portsmouth & Southsea
in Bloom judges in November 2002. Rewarding moments have included interesting
conversations with visitors, beautiful afternoons and companionship in
the garden and seeing blackbirds sitting on a nest in one of the cardoons
this Spring.
We have acquired our second set of wrought iron gates, which, with the
yew hedge, complete the enclosed feel of the original Porter's Garden site.
They were initially forged during the Christmas Festival, 29 November to
1 December 2002 and erected at Easter, 20 April 2003.
Our compost bins are finished, so we can systematically recycle our
garden waste into nutrients and our lawns are nicely groomed, thanks to
John Gunn and Charlotte Frost. The cherry trees have been symmetrically
fan-trained along canes.
Publicity has been improved through the News, particularly an
article on the new gates (24 April 2003). Our web site has been kept up
to date by John Scott and we now have a supply of brochures in boxes and
a donation box in the wall under the distinctive sign provided by the dockyard
support group.
Our educational remit was served by devising a Heritage Tour of the
garden on 15 September 2002 and a Trail Quiz with answers for the Mary
Rose Learning Weekend 12-13 October 2002. A book of morello cherry
recipes will be compiled by Mrs Lissie Donnithorne. We are liaising with
Greenfingers horticultural centre at St James's to provide a learning context
for their students and support for us. Their students visited us on 27
January 2003 and will return later in the summer. Greenfingers overwintered
some of our plants and will produce some which are difficult for us to
grow.
The progress of the Land Fill grant application is disappointing. Pauline
considers we should decide whether to include the proposed seat on the
square lawn. We might stand a better chance if we go just for the granite
seats as originally planned, especially as we are unlikely to get matching
funding. We should cut our cloth.... On a positive note, we have been promised
£900 from the Community Chest Children's Fund for our knot garden.
As well as thanks expressed below I would like to express gratitude
in particular to Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust for funding us: Chief
Executive Peter Goodship, Design Manager Lorraine Carpenter and their office
staff for administrative support, Simon Daniel for certifying our accounts
and Property Manager Mark Meatcher for overall care; Sally Hocking for
her continued horticultural originality and searching out of seeds to save
money, Pauline Powell for coping wonderfully with the paperwork, especially
grant applications, Jean Flack-Munday for her beautiful logo design and
Henry for checking the figures, John Scott for keeping our web page up
to date, Fiona Edgley for designing our Morello cherry jam labels and John
Gunn for completing the compost bins, turning the compost and keeping our
lawn beautiful.
Donations
For gifts in 2002-2003 we should like to thank
-
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust for an annual grant of £750.00
and for contributing one third of the cost of the gates
-
Norman Howden of Flagship Portsmouth for contributing one third of the
cost of the gates
-
Peter Clutterbuck for fulfilling our wishes in designing beautifully crafted
gates
-
Alison and Ken Clarke for a donation
-
Andrew Sellick of Gawthorpe, Warnford, for snowdrops, collected and planted
in the garden by Pauline
-
Willow withies from Staunton Country Park for wigwams
-
Mr and Mrs Brain for propagating unusual plants for sale
-
Gilly Drummond and June Parkinson of Hampshire Gardens Trust for their
continuing support
-
King John's Garden in Romsey for advising us on our grant applications
-
Mr and Mrs Tiley of the Oasis Riding Centre, Bursledon, for mature horse
manure
-
Brian Kidd and Roger Young of Portsmouth City Council Parks Department
for plants, practical support and advice
-
Friends of Petersfield Physic Garden for continued support and plants
-
Friends of the Crescent Garden, Alverstoke for a wonderful tour and plants
-
Martin and Pam Wilson from Petersfield for two purple sage plants
-
Friends of the Porter's Garden whose subscriptions have helped us throughout
the year
-
Greenfingers, St James's Hospital Milton, for advice and help
-
Lorraine Carpenter, £50 winnings from the Historic Dockyard World
Cup Sweepstake, 2002
-
Lissie Donnithorne for writing a booklet on eighteenth century cherry receipts
-
Havant Horticultural Society for a strawberry tree
-
Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust Support Group for painting a
'Porter's Garden' sign
Porter's Garden 'digging' Friends
Eileen and Emma Brooks, Lorraine Carpenter, Ann Coats, Cate Coley, Chris
Dobbs, Fiona Edgley, Jean Flack-Munday, Charlotte Frost, John Gunn, Sally
Hocking, Ann Hunt, Gill Jarrett, Sue Lightfoot, David London, Henry Munday,
Pauline Powell, Mary Simmons, Audrey Townshend and Sheila Willes (and Aislinn
O'Connor and Ruth and Luke Simmons as junior Friends) for digging, watering,
woodwork and painting, historical and horticultural research, petrol used
to collect plants and horse manure from Hampshire and Sussex, emails and
telephone calls, administration, photographs, plants, tools, fertiliser
and sundries.
At least 500 person hours were donated 30 April 2002-5 May 2003.
Dr Ann Coats
Coordinator
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