Transport for London Open Garden Squares Weekend
"Exclusive Access” More than 120 private gardens open their
gates for London Open Squares Weekend
London Parks & Gardens Trust is offering the opportunity to visit more than
120 private gardens & squares as part of Open Garden Squares Weekend, which
will take place on June 12 & 13, 2010.
For the third year, this popular event, will be sponsored by Transport for London
(TfL). Visitors from all over London and far beyond will have the rare chance to
enter a vast array of inspirational gardens which are not usually open to the public
- ranging from the historically memorable to the small and quirky; from the contemporary
and eco-friendly to renowned roof gardens, cemeteries and working allotments.
Over 200 gardens are participating in the weekend with 31 taking part for the first
time. Twelve new and exciting gardens, which are not usually open to the public,
will be allowing ‘exclusive access’ to visitors over the weekend.
These include The Zen Garden at the Hempel in Westminster (see illustration). This
treasure is usually solely for the private use of hotel guests. Enclosed by a six-foot
hedge and beautiful trees, three squares of raked Italian marble pebbles surround
three perfectly symmetrical slate-lined ponds, offering guests a peaceful green
refuge in the heart of London. This will be open on the Saturday morning from 10am
– 1pm.
Little Abbey - part of Peabody's historic Abbey Orchard site, which stands near
Westminster Abbey. The gardens and courtyards were refurbished to highlight their
private, secluded nature in the heart of Westminster. Hillview near Kings Cross
is a Victorian housing estate that has been transformed into a delightful green
haven. Tea and cakes will be offered during the weekend. While Sir John Cass's Foundation
Primary School (see illustration), on the edge of Whitechapel will be inviting ‘grow
your own’ enthusiasts to be inspired by their containerised roof garden.
Further towards the east of the city is Zander Court Club House in Bethnal Green.
This is an informal gated garden attached to community centre, looked after by the
residents. Open on the Sunday, there will be refreshments and a plant sale. Even
the faint hearted enjoy a visit to Victorian cemeteries now they have become havens
not only for the deceased. Five of the Magnificent Seven Garden Cemeteries - Brompton,
Nunhead; Kensal Green; West Norwood and Tower Hamlets plus the sixth Abney Park,
which has now become a woodland memorial park and Local Nature Reserve, are all
arranging tours for visitors over the weekend.
Also with an emphasis on nature and wildlife, Roots and Shoots in Lambeth will be
opening during the weekend. A vocational training centre for young people with a
famous half-acre wildlife garden, it will be open on the Sunday. They will be selling
refreshments and plants as well as hosting children's activities and storytelling.
Finally, but not at all last, London Parks & Gardens Trust is very pleased that
Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, which was the home of Princess Margaret for many
years will be offering exclusive access on the morning of Saturday 12th only for
guided tours, with tickets allocated in advance. The garden, with a stone terrace
which she described as ‘my eighteen feet of Mustique’ was given to Princess Margaret
soon after her marriage in 1960, and was shortly thereafter enclosed on the south
and east sides by brick walls. The half-acre ground, which was laid out from the
early 1970s by the Princess - sometimes in collaboration with Roddy Llewellyn -
possesses a number of trees and shrubs planted by Princess Margaret (including a
cluster of camellias), a white-painted wrought-iron screen made from components
of a former grandstand from Ascot racecourse, a trellis screen, and a wall fountain.
The garden still retains its informal character. Tour numbers will be strictly limited;
please visit www.opensquares.org for details on how to apply for tickets. The tours
will be given by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan and James Fox who are involved in the £12
million project to transform the (public) palace gardens and the visitor experience
at Kensington Palace for HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Also open especially for TfL Open Garden Squares Weekend will be many of the much
loved and popular gardens such as the Kensington Roof Gardens; Middle and Inner
Temple; Park Square and Park Crescent; Branch Hill Allotments; Fulham Palace Meadows
Allotments; Culpeper Community Garden; St Mary’s Secret Garden; The Community Garden
at the Tate Modern; Bonnington Square; Eaton Square; Edwardes Square; Arundel and
Elgin in Notting Hill; St Michael’s Convent and, by appointment, the prison gardens
at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, Holloway and Wandsworth.
Ticket Details
One ticket allows entry to all venues over the entire weekend. Ticket prices will
be £7.50 in advance and £9 if bought during the weekend. The closing date for advance
bookings is Monday 7 June 2010.They can be bought:
- From the Ticket hotline on 020 8347 3230 (Mon – Fri 9.00am – 6.00pm until Friday,
June 4.
- Online from www.capitalgardens.co.uk
- By post send a stamped addressed envelope to Capital Gardens, 1 Townsend Yard, Highgate
Village, London, N6 5JF. Cheques should be made payable to Capital Gardens Ltd.
- For each ticket booked in advance before June 4, Capital Gardens will give a £5
discount voucher to spend at any Capital Gardens garden centre.
- In person (until Friday 11 June at 6.30pm) from the Britain and London Visitor Centre
on 1 Lower Regent Street, SW1Y 4XT, (where there will be the opportunity to win
a Fortnum & Mason picnic hamper) and from all Capital Garden Centres.
- During the weekend tickets are available from the Britain and London Visitor Centre
and selected participating gardens.
Lots more information can be found at
www.opensquares.org