AnniversaryGdns

The Anniversary Garden in Summer 2008

The Anniversary Garden Project:

The Anniversary Garden is a small green open space situated in Eccles Court which runs between The Ferns and The Chippings. It was originally part of the grounds of Sir William Romney’s school, Long Street which is now the present day doctor’s surgery.

In 1977, after the school grounds had been sold to developers for housing, this small area was developed into a garden by Brigadier Meyrick Nielsen, the founder of the original ‘Tetbury in Bloom’ to commemorate The Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

Over the years, the garden became sad and uncared for so in 2007, to commemorate its 30th anniversary and to mark the 80th birthday of HM The Queen, The Civic Society decided to fund its make over.

In 2007, Eric Simpson, member of both Tetbury in Bloom and the Civic Society took it upon himself to redesign and almost single handedly do the work.

Keeping much of the original design features he set about transforming it into a sensory garden.

He built a new rose arbour, dug new beds and planted over 50 new rose bushes chosen for their fragrance together with many perennial plants.

The old broken paving and walls were taken away and the bare area returfed . The neglected 7’ high, overgrown rosa regosa bushes that formed a visual barrier between the path and the garden were given a severe pruning that kick started them back into life with luscious new growth.

In Autumn several hundred bulbs were planted and the whole project was deemed a great success.

The gardens now look as though someone has ‘switched the lights back on’, it is well cared for and totally rejuvenated!

The ‘before’ picture showing a very tired & sad looking area.

This picture shows the work had already been started by cutting down
the old 7’ high rosa regosa bushes which formed a hedge alongside the tarmac path

The rose arbour is constructed to ultimately form a new entrance to the garden
and new beds are cut along the paved path and at the base of the far wall

More new beds are dug alongside the rose arbour and, about 6 months after starting,
stage one of the ‘makeover’ is completed.

The front of the picture on the right shows the old rosa regosa bushes
which were cut back almost to ground level, now full of new growth and flowering freely.