Agenda item

The Superintendent to be heard.

The Committee received a verbal update from the City Gardens Manager. The following points were made:

·       Work was being undertaken to convert 15 annual bedding areas into more sustainable planting beds using shrubs, perennials, herbaceous planting to create planting schemes that give seasonal interest as well as introducing biodiversity features. Relevant bodies had been consulted regarding how they would be affected by the works and positive responses in general were received

·       The team had undertaken a tree planting programme and staff had just planted 8 new trees to replace trees that have either been diseased, damaged or died, 11 new trees with a further 12 to be planted in the New Year, linked to the 2^nd year of the Green Corridors project. Further tree planting is planned subject to trial pits being identified. 

·       Seething Lane Gardens was now closed due to extensive works taking place at 10 Trinity House nearby. A newly landscaped garden would re-open in 2014. Information about closure and the new design has been posted on the hoarding and on our website.

·       Monkswell Square tree pruning was about to take place, to lift and protect two existing tress from scaffolding which was about to be installed around the Barber Surgeons Hall, as part of refurbishment works to the building. The scaffolding would remain in place until June. Re-landscaping the garden would take place in the summer of 2013, City Gardens would undertake the planting in early autumn 

·       User Survey - City Gardens had commissioned ASK, a market research company to assess residents, city workers and visitors opinions and views of City Gardens.  The findings from the survey would inform the Open Spaces strategy. The opportunity would be used to promote our parks and green spaces by field workers, they will give out interpretation leaflets to passers-by and to ask if people would be interested in volunteering

·       Volunteering in the City of London Corporation - The Thyme Out project, based in Bromley – a horticultural training project for adults with learning disabilities was carried out in the City had refreshed 3 of our insect hotels and installed additional stag beetle loggeries in Cleary Gardens, Bunhill Fields and Postman’s Park. They also helped the team plant over 20,000 bulbs planted in Tower Hill Gardens.

·       Volunteers and the City Gardeners cleaned out and checked on the City’s 48 bird boxes, 29 % occupancy slightly less than last year. The team were looking to find ways to increase this level of occupancy this coming year.   

·       Volunteers from the Prudential sanded down railings and undertook bulb planting in Bunhill Fields.

RECEIVED.