Agenda item

The Superintendent of City Gardens to be heard.

The Superintendent provided Members with the following update:

Finance

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

Staff

A full complement of staff is in place.

Projects and winter works programme

The team have been undertaking a comprehensive winter works programme. As follows:

St Andrew’s Holborn

Both parts of the garden have been redesigned, funded through S106 and funds raised by the church. The City Gardens team have undertaken the soft landscaping which has included; the planting of 4,000 flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants, 2 small lawn areas, a tree and hedging. The latter will be planted by the end of March 2015. A celebration opening event is planned for the spring organised by the church.

The City of London Boy’s School

The frontage of the school has undergone a transformation in line with the Riverside Walk Way strategy and in consultation with the school. Seven trees, 4,000 seasonal flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants have been planted.

St Olave churchyard has also been re landscaped, the planting will be undertaken in the spring including a herb garden in acknowledgement of William and Peter Turner (father and son) both notable 16^th and early 17^th Century physicians and naturalists.

During November the team have planted seven additional trees, four Acers in Sun Street, three Acers in Silk Street and a further four to be planted in the coming months to replace failing trees.

Britain in Bloom - Officers attended the finalists RHS Britain in Bloom event on the 16^th October, held in Bristol. The City of London won Gold in the Champions of Champions category.

City in Bloom Campaign celebrations - On the 27^th October awards were handed out to 17 category winners, the full list is published on the City of London, City Gardens website. 130 guests attended the event held in Middle Temple Hall including residents, schools and businesses. The event was funded through sponsorship and organised by the Friends of City Gardens.

Events and activities - Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony took place on the 4^th December attended by the Lord Mayor, sheriffs and consorts. Guests were entertained by the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir school, Bread Street Choir. The Chairman noted that the event clashed with a number of meetings and asked the Town Clerk to consult Members of the Committee when setting the date for 2015.

Over the course of two weekends in November, Barbican residents assisted the City Gardens team plant 26,000 bulbs and 500 primroses in the Barbican grounds for on-going naturalised displays in the spring months.

Also during November, volunteers from the Friends of City Gardens undertook two days of gardening activities in Christchurch Greyfriars, lifting and dividing herbaceous plants, this was followed by the planting of 2,000 bulbs by adults with learning disabilities taking part in a horticultural training programme based in Bromley.