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Most of the public gardens in Battle are created and maintained by The Beautiful Battle Volunteers. Thousands of bulbs are planted each Autumn to reveal wonderful roadside displays on the approaches to Battle every Spring. These give way to colourful floral displays throughout the summer and Autumn.

We would like to take you on a guided tour............

1. The two northern entrances to Battle bring you to The Roundabout where the seasonal planting is undertaken by Battle Town Council.

2. Flanking this, and maintained by Beautiful Battle, is a garden surrounding a sturdy oak tree managed by David and Barbara which is best viewed in springtime.

3. The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Garden was created in 1977 by the Battle Civic Association in front of the Old Court House and planted with heathers, conifers, azaleas and rhododendrons.

4. Barrier baskets are placed north of the roundabout and sponsored by local community groups and businesses.    The essential services to Battle have made their gardens accessible for community gardening.

5. The Police Station Garden is maintained by a community police officer

6. Moving into town, we come to the small Fire Station Garden managed by Beautiful Battle volunteers and sponsored by local community groups and businesses.

7. Alongside is the Ambulance Station Garden. This was a flower bed for scarecrows in 2008 & 2009. It was replanted in 2010 as a commemorative garden for the Centenary of Guiding. It is the site of the Diamond Jubilee garden which is being developed for 2012.

8. The old sandstone wall marks the site of The Almonry Award winning Gardens, and The Town hall. The walled gardens, in three sections, are the flagship enterprise of the Battle Town Council and Beautiful Battle partnership. The garden is free to visitors. The Judas Tree Cercis siliquastrum in the front garden is a sight to behold in May, and packets of seed may be purchased from Battle Museum of Local History situated within the front garden.

9. The courtyard in the rear garden is a refuge to enjoy with container displays in the summer. A unisex lavatory is available here. The Gardens are a joy at any time of the year to all the volunteers who work here, and to all those who visit.

10. A short distance from The Almonry is the Nationwide Building Society, formerly The Guildhall, where the car park to the rear is a real hidden garden. A business with a ‘community’ approach has enabled volunteers Geoff and Sheila to create a delightful garden in what was an overgrown neglected wilderness. All plants for ‘The Hand-me-down-Garden’ have been donated and the bulbs are funded by Beautiful Battle.

11. A small garden at the entrance to Mountjoy, in Mount Street, has been designed and created by Sandra & Richard as a tribute to well remembered and respected family members. The garden seat was donated by The Battle Gardens and Leisure Group. Pictured here is a South East in Bloom Judge in 2009.

12. Mount Street is well endowed with summer floral displays, all looked after by the businesses, as are those in Old Ladies Court.

13. Mount Street Car Park is the gateway to Battle High Street for motorists. Prize winning Wasted Winnie’ stood on guard in 2009 in the Senlac Veterinary Centre Garden.

14. Through a ‘twitten’ leading to the High Street there is a narrow garden which has evolved into the flower bed it is now, and which is managed by the Battle Choral Society.

15. An alternative route to The High Street takes the pedestrian past the Rother Homes’ Garden maintained by Marilyn for Beautiful Battle, via a wonderful basket display managed by St Martin’s Residents Gardening Club, to Abbey Court where the planters are looked after by the ladies of Saxonwood W.I.

16. The newly created ‘fruit garden’ reflects times of Battle past commemorating Newbery Preserves Jam Factory. The original sign is still in place above the High Street entrance.

17. Approaching Battle via Hastings Road, south of the town, the first garden to present itself about 1mile short of the town centre, is The Dry Garden at the entrance to Glengorse. Designed and planted by John, a local resident, a serpent of logs on a gravel base was the starting point. John, a plant specialist was given the brief of using plants which would grow to no more than 18” (to satisfy Highways) and which would withstand drought conditions. The garden has matured, and the plants have merged, during the last four years to a very pleasing effect.

18. The Roundel Garden on Station Approach, originally conceived by The Civic Association, underwent a complete makeover in 2007, and is managed by Gary and Anne, volunteers of Beautiful Battle, as a twice yearly bedding scheme. Planters both in Station Approach, and on the Station platform, are looked after by Maggie and Joanna with the support of Peter the ticket clerk.

19. In summer, The Floral Route of basket displays takes the visitor into the centre of Battle and past the entrance to Powdermill Lane which in spring boasts a magnificent display of daffodils.

20. The next floral landmark is the Garden opposite The Chequers Public House. This was the first garden created by Beautiful Battle, on a barren site behind the old bus stop. The garden, constructed in two phases around some granite rocks, supports dry-loving plants which require minimum attention. It is managed by Sylvia and John, and is at its best in Summer, but conveys an architectural interest year-round.     Close by, and at the entrance to Marley Lane, is a very colourful bedding scheme managed by Gary and Adrian of Battle Town Council.

21. Arriving at The Abbey Green, the focal point of Battle, the visitor is welcomed in summer by a riot of colour in the large planters which surround the old bullring in the central area. This was the site in years gone for cattle markets, and also the traditional November 5^th bonfire which still in evidence though in much reduced size. . Off the Green is the Pilgrims Rest restaurant with its newly managed garden by Beautiful Battle.   The Green is also the scene of the Annual Mediaeval Fayre, now in its 23rd year and organised by Battle Chamber of Commerce, which is a highlight at the end of May.   The floral schemes are conceived by Beautiful Battle, and the containers are planted and managed by the ground force team of Battle Town Council, helped by the Beautiful Battle volunteers.

The watering regime adopted to keep all of these floral displays vibrant through the summer is a partnership arrangement between Battle Town Council and Beautiful Battle 'using harvested rainwater'. Gary, Adrian and Andrew carry out this important early morning task thrice weekly, to which Beautiful Battle makes a significant cost input.

The Abbey Green is a fitting finale to this Beautiful Battle Garden Trail May 2011.