Rejuvenation & Improvements

If you’ve strolled through the sunken garden recently you may have noticed some changes.

So, what’s going on?
Well, it’s the next phase in our plan to replant the area to make the space more open and friendly by removing the phormiums. Phormiums offer comparatively little by way of benefit to nature, and had become too dominant in the space, creating hiding places which can encourage anti-social behaviour.

With the backing of the Council Parks Team, the Friends of Denton Gardens are in the process of implementing a new planting scheme, thanks to the design input of our talented local garden designer, Jade Goto. The scheme employs coast tolerant plants that will offer softness, colour, movement and openness, with year-round interest.

The plants will be low maintenance and attractive to wildlife, with a mix of grasses and perennials, and at a height that can be seen over, to make the space feel inviting and integrated with the rest of the gardens. This is an extension of the scheme we have already started planting around the pergola. In the short term the lower level beds will be turfed, creating space for families to play, picnic and socialise, while we are busy fundraising to get all the beds planted up over the next few seasons. If you are willing and able to help us in this endeavour there is a donate button on our website. Or if you fancy helping in the gardens on Wednesday or Saturday please let us know. Details here.

What’s next?

Following on from the sunken garden we are in the process of collating ideas for the woodland border. We do not wish to change the character of the border but we do feel we can enhance it for the benefit of all. We hope to focus on wildlife habitat, new planting and enhancement of the existing planting. One of our regular gardeners, Michał Zarzecki, has very helpfully put together a document describing ideas to enhance and improve the woodland border. Click on the image to view full size (PDF).

This document is designed to capture your imagination and whet your appetite for discussion to enable us to make yet more community led improvements to the gardens.

We would love to hear your views. Please contact us.