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THE CIVIC JUBILEE GARDEN at THE OLD COURTHOUSE
Background
The Battle Civic Association originally laid out this
garden in 1977 to acknowledge the Silver Jubilee of H M the Queen. It mainly consisted of heathers, azaleas and dwarf rhododendrons
and has become a landmark entry to Battle from the North.
The
property in which the garden is sited belonged to ESCC until earlier this year when it was sold into private hands. The garden used to be maintained
by BTC staff but this service ended some years ago. After many years of semi neglect the garden was in urgent need of
attention. Following consultation last June with the new owners, Fred and Nicola Bennett, it was agreed that BB should
give the garden some attention. This was very appropriate as two years ago the remaining funds of the Civic Association were
passed over to BB.
After
some strenuous clearance work, some five builders’ bags of deadwood were removed from the garden before replanting
could take place. The Bennett’s drew up a list and provided some of the new plants. These were supplemented by BB with another
one hundred pounds worth from a local nursery. The garden is still not totally complete but we will wait until next Autumn
to decide what further planting is necessary….if any.
The
full results of the work put in by BB will not be seen for a few years as all the plants are somewhat slow growing.
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Jubilee Gardens (After Makeover) |
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Jubilee Gardens ( Before Makeover) |
Background
This is a joint project being carried out by Beautiful Battle with the invaluable
support of Rother District Council (who own Kingsmead Meadow) and the High Weald Landscape Trust.
The Meadow is situated at the top of Caldbec Hill by the windmill and has extensive views over the valley to Netherfield
Hill. It has tremendous historical importance and was the site where Harold's armies gathered just before the Battle of Hastings
on 14th October 1066.
Over the last 30 years, following the housing development in Bowman's Drive and Duke's Hill, the remnants of
the old meadow have gradually deteriorated and many of the original floral species have become rare. This has also had an
adverse impact on the number and species of butterflies that once inhabited the meadow.
It is now proposed to restore the meadow by adopting a more appropriate maintenance regime and carry out a
meadow enhancement programme using locally donated seed from the nearby meadow at Beech Farm Estate.
Progress to Date
A baseline survey of what floral species remained was taken in May 2008.
During July and early August considerable progress has been made on the
Kingsmead Wildflower Meadow project. The pictures below show the separate phases of the work that have been carried
and the next steps being planned
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The pictures in this section explain each step in the sequence to date
The first phase was to mow the existing meadow after the existing wildflowers
had seeded in late July
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It is vital that after
the meadow is mown that the grass is baled and removed. This is to prevent the grass composting and adding too much nutrient
to the soil which in the past has promoted more vigourous grass growth so reducing the germination of the wildflower
seeds.
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Phase 3 - Harrowing Meadow Surface |
Once the hay bales were removed,
the next phase involved harrowing the field to open up the surface in readiness for receiving the donated wildflower seed
from a local meadow.
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Phase 4 - Donor Meadow Seed Collection |
The next phase was to collect
the donated seed from one of the wildflower meadows at Beech Farm Estate.
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Phase 5 - Spreading Seed from Donor Meadow |
The final phase was to spread
the seed collected from the donor meadow onto the Kingsmead meadow. This was a time critical process as the seed had to be
transferred and spread within an hour of collection from the donor site to minimise heat damage to the seed whilst in transit.
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Autumn 2008 - Status Report |
This latest picture shows the
meadow as it was in mid October 2008. There are already signs of more abundant floral species.
The next step is to research, design, construct and install "Interpretation
Signs" at the main entrance to the meadow. These will provide visitors with information about the floral
species to be found and demonstrate how the number and abundance of species in the meadow has increased when
compared with the baseline survey taken at the start of the project.
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Ambulance Station - New Bed
A group of adult students with learning difficulties, from Ivyland
Farm's special school has completed a new "Cottage Garden" style display outside the Ambulance Station in support of
Beautiful Battle.
The Senior Seekers group from St Mary's church in Battle made the first scarecrow
to "guard" the bed. This was then replaced by one seen in the picture. This was made by Netherfield Primary School.
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Market Square - Another New Bed
Beautiful Battle volunteers have just completed another new bed at
Market Square thanks to a new sponsor.
The Picture shows the latest of four beds that have been
"made-over" during the last 6 months. This is sited just inside the entrance to Market Square from the car park.
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Market Square - Phase 2 (Before)
Beautiful Battle volunteers have been working on the next phase
of improvements at Market Square.
The Picture shows some of the 13 volunteers clearing the
largest of the four beds that had been neglected, had become overgrown and had attracted years of rubbish. The team was assisted
by two of the Battle Town Council gardeners who helped remove all the debris from the site.
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Market Square - Phase 2 (After) This picture shows
the re-modelled bed in Market Square after some 30 new trees and shrubs had been planted by Beautiful Battle volunteers.
The new shrubs include: - Dogwood, Escallonia, Flowering Current, Holly, Photinia
(Red Robin), Buddleia, Cherry, Crabapple, Hydrangea, Liquid Amber, Roses, Mahonia, Maple, Cotinus (Smoke Bush) and Azealeas.
These have been selected to give all year round interest.
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Station Approach - Roundel
This picture shows the superb spring display at the junction
of Station Approach and Battle Hill, following the planting of Hyacinth bulbs and Primroses by two Beautiful Battle volunteers
last autumn.
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North Trade Road - Town Planter
The picture shows the planter on the North Trade Road below the
Battle Town sign. In addition to providing an interesting display of evergreens during autumn and winter, spring has now revealed
the red Praestens Fusilier tulips.
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Upper Lake - Church House
The picture shows one of the two planters outside Church House
in Upper Lake. Following on from the display of evergreens during autumn and winter, spring has now revealed the yellow and
red Kaufmanniana Stresa tulips.
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Past Projects
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Below are some the previous projects involving Beautiful Battle
volunteers and the wider community
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Wellington Gardens - Bulb Planting
Beautiful Battle
volunteers planted daffodils at the entrance to Wellington Gardens.
On the same day another Beautiful Battle group planted 1,000 bluebells near the
footbath by the Battle Abbey walls.This brings the total number of bulbs planted by Beautiful
Battle in autumn 2007 to 6,000 and nearly 30,000 over the last three years
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Battle Gates - Bulb Planting
Beautiful Battle volunteers planted 1,000 mixed daffodils
at the entrance to Battle Gates. These supplement the ones on the other side of Battle
Gates to further enhance this main entrace to the town along the North Trade Road.
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Market Square - Rainbows Flower Bed
Battle Rainbows. the town's budding gardeners, replanted their
flower bed in Market Square with 200 wallflowers and a row of violas in a rainbow arch.
Tim Gowland of Great Park Farm Nursery kindly donated the plants.
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Town Centre - Autumn Bedding
During late September and early October Beautiful Battle volunteers
and the town council's gardeners replanted over 50 planters and permanent beds in the town centre and by the railway
station. As well as giving new interest over the autumn and winter the planters will reveal a wonderful display
of more than 2,000 tulips in the spring.
The picture shows two of the town council's gardeners working on one of the planters on
the Abbey Green.
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Scouts Centenary - Carpet Bedding
A carpet bedding display was installed on the grass
bank in Market Square to celebrate the Scout's centenary in 2007. The display was designed by specialist growers in Cornwall
and installed by Beautiful Battle volunteers.
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Station Approach "Roundel"
Beautiful Battle volunteers completed in summer 2007 the
"makeover" of the small roundel at the entrance to Station Approach from Battle Road. Two additional wooden planters were
also installed at the bottom of Station Approach near one of the car park ticket machines.
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Some of the 18,000 bulbs planted in Autumn 2006. Picture shows the daffodil bank at the junction of Virgins
Lane and Whatlington Road in April 2007
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Display at Powdermills Lane junction with Lower Lake April 2007
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Dry garden at junction of Marley Lane and Upper Lake April 2007
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Glengorse Dry Garden Project
New dry garden at the junction of Glengorse and Battle Hill in March 2007
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Market Square Kebab Shop Project
Renovated bed outside the Kebab Shop completed March 2007
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Renovated long bank completed April 2007 |
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Railway Station Platform 2 Project
A new bed has been constructed by the ticket clerk on Platform 2 at the railway station. He also erected
four more hanging baskets in April 2007 The new bed is in a very shady position. Advice on a suitable planting scheme
was given by Wendy Mansfield, winner of the Battle in Bloom "Hidden Gardens" award in 2006.
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On-going Projects
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Below are examples of on-going Maintenance Projects by Beautiful
Battle
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Some of the Beautiful Battle volunteers who carry out the maintenance of these gardens for the Town Council
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Close up flowers on the "Judas Tree" May 2007
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Crocus bed alongside front garden path March 2007
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Pond in March 2007 with Marsh Marigolds in flower
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