Visit to Reading’s Forbury Gardens and RISC’s
roof garden in London Street (Friday 24th June 2005)
In June, twenty Friends of the Harris Garden were given an
excellent guided tour of the refurbished Forbury Gardens by
Carolyn Jenkins of the Parks Department of Reading Borough
Council. A cloudy sky, and severe weather warnings in the
south west did not augur well. At the Abbey Gateway, where
nearby is the new kiosk with café, toilets and resident
gardener, Carolyn gave us a brief history of the area, through
the Victorian period of public parks development and the recent
remedial work courtesy of a Lottery Grant. The new planting
schemes have a strong Victorian flavour though other, softer
schemes will have a place too. Old photographs show a fernery
and a stumpery between Forbury Hill and Forbury Road. The
former is being recreated but not the latter. It was not possible
to restore the old water fountain in view of its poor condition
and a replica is a very acceptable feature in the restored
pool. The bandstand and the Maiwand Lion have both been restored
to their earlier glory.
We then made our way to the café at the Reading International
Solidarity Centre (RISC) where we met Steve Jones, one of
the creators of the roof garden there. After a very convivial
lunch, Steve introduced us to the roof garden and took us
on a tour of the food and medicinal plants growing there.
He explained the many concepts involved: all the plants have
a use, the majority more than one; the use of the forest garden
concept of layering of productive plants the top layer being
quite tall trees, the bottom layer ground hugging plants;
and sustainability - the re-use of water used to irrigate
the plants using a pumping system using electricity from solar
panels. As Steve explained conservation of energy, the darkening
sky was soon full of the electrical energy of thunder and
lightening and there was another downpour bringing the visit
to an end!
Carolyn and Steve both have great enthusiasm for their respective
gardens and it was greatly appreciated that we could learn
from them of the development of an old and a new garden.
A cheque for £50 from the Friends funds was donated
to RISC, in support of their work especially relating to their
roof garden.
David Hewitt
