Open Garden Squares Weekend

New gardens wanted for 2010 event

Open Garden Squares Weekend is looking for new gardens to take part later this year on June 12-13. The closing date for new gardens is the end of February.

The weekend is an initiative of the London Parks & Gardens Trust and aims to raise awareness of the beauty and diversity of London’s green historic and other garden spaces as well as the important contribution they make to the capital. In 2009, more than 190 gardens participated from Eaton Square through to Branch Hill Allotments.

Val Burton, Event Co-ordinator, said, “Open Garden Squares Weekend allows access on one weekend each year to the private green spaces in London. The weekend’s objective is to increase the public awareness of little known communal and public gardens. Their amazing variety reflects the diversity of the capital’s population, culture, history and environment. Private domestic gardens are not included in the event as these are well represented under the National Gardens Scheme.”

Types of gardens that are suitable include:
• Garden squares, old and new
• Communal gardens of private residential developments
• Gardens of private institutions eg religious establishments or city livery companies
• Community gardens and allotments
• Gardens belonging to shops, offices, hotels or restaurants
• Gardens attached to public buildings or other institutions, such as schools, hospitals or museums
• Gardens of historic interest, or attached to historic buildings, that are in public ownership.
• Roof gardens

Each participating site must have at least one (and preferably two or more) of the following attributes:
• Historic significance
• Design interest
• Community significance
• Horticultural interest
• Environmental importance

For further information on the event, please visit www.opensquares.org

February 7, 2010