Agenda item

The Superintendent of Parks and Gardens to be heard.

The City Gardens Manager provided an update on recent activity across the City Gardens and made the following points:

Finance

The City Gardens budget was in line with agreed budget profiles.

Staff

A new assistant gardener would join the team at the end of April 2014.

Gardens

John Carpenter Street – Blackfriars

A new green landscaping area comprising hedging and trees had been installed using funding from J.P. Morgan.

St Andrews-Holborn

The garden was now closed and demolition work had now been completed. Hard landscaping would begin shortly and soft landscaping would commence in September 2014.

Fenchurch Plaza

A new landscaped area had been created outside Fenchurch Street Station, with hedging and trees to be installed shortly.

Bury Court

A small landscaped area near St Mary Axe (the Gherkin), including two trees, had been created.

World War I Remembrance

A poppy wildflower mix had been planted on 25 March 2014 in St Paul’s Cathedral Garden by the choir school.

Friends of City Gardens and Volunteer Activities

Roof Top Survey

A roof top survey of City Gardens would take place on 27 April and 11 May beginning at 0400, overseen by Dusty Gedge and the Friends of City Gardens – ten City rooftops would be included in the survey.

Planting Workshop

The Friends would be undertaking herb planting on 27 April in the containers located on Fann Street.

Open Squares Weekend 14/15 June

The Friends would be running a plant stall and selling tea and coffee in Postman’s Park as well as organising a heritage quiz at Bunhill. The City of London Guides would also be running tours of the Gardens aimed at families and young people.

Barbican Station

A ‘pop up’ vegetable garden would be planted in June 2014 by the Friends on a disused platform at Barbican station. The project was organised in partnership with Transport for London, and the planters had been designed pro bono by Gensler, the international landscape company. The planters would be constructed of recycled building material and sponsorship was currently being sought.

City in Bloom

The Friends were currently leading on a City in Bloom campaign on behalf of the City Gardens.