August 2024
Dear Resident and/or Key Holder
Up and Coming Events in the Gardens
Please find here an updated table of up and coming private and community events in the Gardens.
Special Event
For the special combined and “North American Western” themed private and Cornwall Gardens community event taking place on Sunday, 25 August 2024, please find a flyer here with more details.
“Sheriff” Priyanka is arranging and hosting the event. The first 50 wrist bands applied for in order to participate in the event will be £30 per head; thereafter the amount will be £55 per head. Key holders have priority booking. Given the range of activities involved, especially for children, the amount payable per head is the same for adults and children.
Applications to attend must be confirmed to Priyanka by Friday, 16 August using the phone number provided on the flyer. This is to assist the caterers providing food (but not drink) with numbers attending. Please therefore feel free to bring your own drink as this is not included.
Payments must be made in person in cash to Priyanka by Friday, 23 August who will then issue numbered wrist bands.
Any further details may be obtained by contacting Priyanka direct.
Booking Form
For convenience, please find the Booking Form here for you to use if you wish to request permission to hold your own private event in the Gardens.
Reports of Events
“All’s Well That Ends Well” – Shakespeare in Cornwall Gardens, Tuesday 25 June 2024
Another wonderful performance from Shakespeare in the Squares with the bonus of a fine warm evening in an otherwise soggy late Spring and early Summer.
“Some Enchanted Evening”, tlc/Earl’s Courtiers, Cornwall Gardens, Tuesday 2 July 2024
Toby Brown of tlc pulled the stops out to present us with a thoroughly enjoyable evening of light music and great singing accompanied by Pimms and other liquid refreshments. Once again, we were fortunate in having a fine warm evening.
Update on the Garden Improvement Plan
Garden Waste Recycling Scheme, Parking Restrictions and Bike Stands
Three wooden bunkers have now been installed at the western end of the Central Garden to support the garden waste recycling scheme, with thanks to David Ashton (our Gardener), Adrian Gingles and Ian Murdoch (both CG residents and members of the Garden Committee) for their contribution in achieving this outcome. Photos are here so you can see what the bunkers look like. Work will continue to clear the soil, following the excavation work, piled up in the corner, tidy up the area behind the shed (which has been earmarked for storage of leaf bags) and improve the bed immediately adjacent to it with additional planting and more variety. The bunkers comprise all natural materials with a soil base. No concrete or other hard core material has been used. Dark green tarpaulin covers will be deployed. It is anticipated at least 25% of the leaves can be recycled using shredders along with lawn clippings and other garden waste. The remaining leaves will continue to be collected and disposed of by RBKC for composting elsewhere.
RBKC is being asked to consider putting permanent parking restrictions on no more than two bays in the area immediately adjacent to the garden gate (which sits behind the kitchen waste composters you can see in one of the photos) to enable easier access during the working day. Further restrictions are being considered to deter large vehicles being parked in the cut between the West and Central Gardens. The kitchen waste compost area will need to be shifted to make for easier access with the opportunity taken to see if the compost bins can be upgraded and/or increased in size. (We’ve been advised not to combine kitchen waste with green waste in the same receptacle).
RBKC is also being asked to provide additional Sheffield bike stands (these are Victorian in appearance using wrought iron painted black to blend in with the railings) to be installed at the western end of CG on the little used parking bays under the tree drip lines. This should also help alleviate the pressure being placed on the railings around the West Garden and also the railings of private houses. These railings do not provide adequate security for the bikes, the railings themselves are prone to damage caused by the bikes being attached to them and the outlook is unsightly for neighbours.
The Mound and Eastern Border of Central
As you can see from one of the photos, David and Adrian have removed the timber piles at the north end of the Mound which were disintegrating – see separate “before” photo attached. They then shaped the Mound removing the sheer drop to the hard pavement and replacing it with a gentle incline thereby rendering it much safer for children. Following earlier test excavations, the soil contamination was found to be superficial with most of the shards now removed.
The next step is to improve the soil, irrigation and light levels to the Mound and Eastern Border to encourage better, healthier and more varied plant growth. The border fence will be stretched and strengthened. All of this should help provide more privacy and security for garden users in this area which currently is somewhat exposed to passers-by in Grenville Place.
Tim George, our tree surgeon and specialist, recently visited this area to assess what could be done to introduce more light and is consulting RBKC. One Hawthorn growing on the Mound was found to be in a poor condition and at risk of disintegration. Given the safety risk, it will probably have to be removed. The remaining trees on the Mound will be retained though they are likely to benefit from pruning to encourage better growth and allow more light to penetrate to ground level both of the Mound and Eastern Border.
The two Holly Trees in the Eastern Border also would benefit from pruning to allow more light to penetrate.
The Mound, Eastern Border and beds on the corner of the Mound will be cleared of scrub, a wooden beam and unattractive, dead or dying shrubs and improved with fresh planting. One of the main benefits of the recycling scheme is that the Eastern Border and Borders in the West Garden need no longer be used to store unsightly leaf bags awaiting collection thereby allowing improved, full and proper planting along its length.
So far as the Mound itself is concerned, we are coming up with proposals to balance the interests of children in continuing to use it as a play area whilst making it more visually attractive. We intend to invite comments over a two week period once we’ve circulated a plan and visualisation of what it might look like, which we intend to do by 16 September 2024. The Management Committee will carefully consider your comments and then make a decision.
Our intention is that the works will be phased over two financial years. The first phase, which primarily relates to the Mound, will occur during 2024. The rest of the work will occur in 2025. All of this will be covered in the consultation materials.
Lost and Found
A resident left a ukelele in a black instrument bag by mistake in the paved area in front of the shed in the Central Garden last Monday evening (12 August). If you found it, please contact the Secretary using the phone number below or by email to alanlester1@btinternet.com so that it can be reunited with its grateful owner.
Best,
Alan Lester
Keys Secretary and Secretary, Cornwall Gardens Committee and Residents Association
07816 324335
