Agenda item

The Superintendent of City Gardens to be heard.

The City Gardens Manager provided the Committee with an update on recent activities and issues.

Finance

The City Gardens finances are in line with agreed budget profiles.

Staff

Recruitment was underway for the position of Assistant Gardener following the position becoming vacant at the beginning of September 2013.

Projects

The City Gardens Manager noted that the majority of the landscaping work at St Botolph’s Bishopgate had now been completed with a small area of paving due to be finished by the end of October 2013. A native holly hedge would be planted by December 2013.

London and Britain in Bloom

The City Gardens Manager noted that officers attended the London in Bloom finalist award celebrations on 18 September 2013, at which the City won an overall Gold for the Town category.

The full list of accolades included:

Town Category

City of London – Gold (assessing the overall impact of managing open spaces including: horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation)

Small Park of the Year

Silver - Tower Hill Garden, City of London

Silver Gilt - Cleary Gardens, City of London

Silver Gilt - Festival Gardens and Queens Diamond Jubilee Garden, City  of London

Silver Gilt - Portsoken Street Garden, City of London

Gold - Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden, City of London

Small Cemetery  

Silver Gilt & Category Winner - Bunhill Fields, City of London                

The London in Bloom Business Premises of the Year(judged against all other business premises in London) was awarded to Middle Temple.

The City Gardens Manager reminded the Committee that the Britain in Bloom final awards presentations, attended by both officers and the Chairman, would be taking place on 12 October 2013.

In conclusion the City Gardens Manager reported that City Gardens won Gold for Cleary Gardens, Silver Gilt for Christchurch Greyfriars and Bronze for St Dunstan’s in the East in the London Garden’s Society awards ceremony which took place on 3 October.

Friends of City Gardens and Volunteer Activities

The City Gardens Manager reported that a group of 11 volunteers from Friends of City Gardens and City of London Guides would be lifting and dividing plants in Christ Church Greyfriars. The whole garden would be mulched with manure from Buckingham Palace.

Furthermore the Friends had arranged an Apple Day event on 19 October to take place in Golden Lane Community Hall between 1100-1600hrs, with activities including a competition to peel the longest apple peel, cooking demonstrations, stalls, music and activities for children. The first AGM of the Friends would be held at the end of the day. There would be a further event organised by the Friends and the City Gardens team labelled Wild about your garden on 31 October that will include bulb planting and a history-themed treasure hunt. The City Gardens Manager also reported that the Friends had secured £200 of funding from the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association that would be spent on underplanting the mini-orchard on Fann Street.

Growing Localities Apprenticeship Scheme

The City Gardens Manager reported that three apprentices had now been recruited and were in position at West Ham Park, City Gardens and Hyde Park.

Lastly, the Manager noted that the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was on schedule for 5 December.