Friends of Caversham Court Gardens No.7 – July 2010 CELEBRATION – FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1 – 6pm
Reading Borough Council is hosting a free celebration in Caversham Court on Friday 30 July, between 1 and 6 pm with the gardens open until 9 - so bring a picnic. It is almost one year since the reopening - and at 5.30 pm there will be a very special presentation!
The Tea Kiosk will be open serving tea and cakes from 1pm; the Play Rangers will lead activities for younger children, the Friends will conduct tours and families can enjoy the challenge of a quiz. Please come along and bring friends and family to enjoy these and other activities! Everyone is invited!
If you could help the Friends run an information point for an hour or so, please e-mail Friends@fccg.org.uk or call 0118 948 1751
HIDDEN CORNERS OF CAVERSHAM COURT
Emily, the Head Gardener, will tell us all about the heritage fruit collection and why particular varieties were chosen. This is a rare opportunity to get close to the allotments and look at the ecological area and the wildlife pond. Tours, which are for Friends only (others can of course join for £2.00), are at 2pm on both Thursday and Sunday. Book your place by e-mailing Friends@fccg.org.uk or phoning 0118 947 4296. Afterwards why not stop for afternoon tea at the Tea Kiosk?
OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
August 1, September 5 and October 3 - First Sunday tours - just turn up with your friends between 2.30 and 5.00 (no booking required). The Friends’ volunteer guides will talk about Caversham Court’s long and interesting history and explain the thinking behind the modern planting.
December 20 - Christmas carols in Caversham Court led by St Peter’s Church choir. Look out for further details nearer the time but we are definitely hoping for less snow this year!
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
September 12 - Caversham in History walk: Explore historic Caversham with local historian Joan Dils, who will be leading a walk in the afternoon, starting from Caversham Bridge and ending in Caversham Court. You can find booking details of this and all the other events taking place across Reading between Thursday 9 and Sunday 12 September in the Reading Borough Council Heritage Open Days leaflets, which will be available from libraries.
FRIENDS APPRECIATED
Marcus Hermon, RBC Parks Operations Manager, thanked Friends for their significant contribution to Caversham Court and in particular to their support on Green Flag judging day. We also received praise from the Britain in Bloom judges, who described the gardens as "impressive".
CAVERSHAM COURT’S AMERICAN CONNECTION?
In 1786 Thomas Jefferson, later President of the USA and at the time ambassador to France, came to Caversham while touring the gardens of England. He visited Caversham Park, which was then owned by Major Charles Marsac, a "nabob" who had made his fortune in India. Jefferson described the gardens there - refashioned by the landscape gardener Capability Brown in the 1760s - in his "Memorandums made on a Tour of some of the Gardens in England".
Margaret Richardson, who leads the U3A Architecture Group in Diss, Norfolk, has contacted the Friends of Caversham Court Gardens to ask whether we have any information about Jefferson's visit to Caversham. She has a particular interest in the history of serpentine walls. Jefferson is known to have admired serpentine walls in gardens in England, and went on to design them at the University of Virginia in the USA.
During his stay, Jefferson may well have worshipped at St Peter's and visited the Old Rectory (as Caversham Court was then known), the home of the well-known antiquary and traveller, John Loveday. It is an intriguing thought that Jefferson may have noticed the fine wall round the kitchen gardens, though this wall between St Peter's churchyard and Caversham Court is not strictly speaking a crinkle-crankle or serpentine wall. Is there an American connection? Much more research to be done!
|  VOLUNTEER GARDENERS GROUP
A regular team works with Emily on Thursdays but she would be delighted to have more - for Thursdays or perhaps for another day. If you would like to volunteer leave a message for Emily on 0118 947 8930.
FCCG VOLUNTEER GUIDES
The guides have had a busy first season conducting tours for pre-booked groups and for casual visitors on First Sundays - see above for future dates. We’d love to hear from people who would like to find out about training as a guide as there is great demand for tours - contact Friends@fccg.org.uk or phone 0118 948 1751 to discuss. If your group would like to book a tour or a talk please e-mail Friends@fccg.org.uk or write to FCCG, c/o Head Gardener’s Office, Caversham Court, Church Road, Caversham RG4 7AG.
CAVERSHAM COURT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Friends have two seats on this committee, which brings together ward councillors, RBC Parks Department and community representatives with the aim of ensuring that the gardens are maintained to the highest standards and are available for the whole community to enjoy. The Friends have raised concerns about staffing, health and safety and security in the gardens, and have also asked RBC to look at wider issues of signage, traffic and access for pedestrians to Caversham Court.
WHAT TO SEE IN CAVERSHAM COURT
Vinery display inspired by Brazilian garden designer Roberto Burle Marx (on just a marginally smaller scale!) Sinuous curves of Sanseviera (popularly known as Mother-in-law's tongue) snake round Coleus and Impatiens (Busy Lizzie) making wonderful splashes of colour;
A new steel structure has been erected which gives the impression of the shape and style of the vinery greenhouse. Purple grape vines are growing up and over it to give some shade and shelter;
Lavender bank is looking fabulous – look out for all the bees and butterflies;
Amaryllis, re-used from last year, are flowering happily at the approach to the churchyard steps;
Look out for the Nerines on the Long Walk at the base of the yew hedge - donated by the Friends.
TEA KIOSK
Enjoy tea or coffee and cakes overlooking the river - and support local charities. The kiosk opens at 1pm Thursdays to Sundays (and Bank Holiday Monday) until the end of October.
The Kiosk Committee representing the charities responsible for equipping and maintaining the kiosk has worked very hard over the last 18 months, and as the kiosk goes into its second summer, the home-made refreshments are a great attraction on sunny days. The volunteers from each charity, who work in the kiosk usually four days at a time, are indeed hoping for a “kiosk summer” this year!
RECENT EVENTS
The 2010 AGM was a great evening for FCCG when the then Mayor welcomed our MP, Rob Wilson, and over 100 members and guests. Mayor Fred Pugh made it clear he would do everything in his power to maintain the funding for Caversham Court so that it could be looked after to the highest possible standards. Giles Pritchard, who was the historic buildings architect responsible for the renovation of the structures in Caversham Court, gave a fascinating presentation on how the causeway and the vinery were renovated.
Easter Saturday saw nearly 200 children taking part in an Easter Egg Trail organized by the Friends assisted by enthusiastic young mums and dads. What a joy to see so many youngsters scampering around seeking answers to the quiz despite the grey skies! There’ll be another in 2011, so put Easter Saturday 23 April in your diary to bring your children or grandchildren.
JOIN FCCG OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP NOW!
The Friends need your support in their work to encourage the preservation of one of Caversham’s best-loved open spaces, to publicise its importance to Caversham, to Reading and beyond and to input into future developments and activities. Membership cost £2.00 per person to December 2010 or £5 for a 3-year membership until December 2012. Form at www.fccg.org.uk on the Join Us page or contact: Philip Darlow, Treasurer FCCG, Kalewa, The Warren, Caversham, RG4 7TQ - Tel: 0118 947 2205 / E-mail: Friends@fccg.org.uk |