The Porter's Garden > project
The Porter's Garden project
Supported by:
Hampshire Gardens Trust
Completed: 26 June 2005
- Provided sculptured seating picture
- Created a knot garden, designed by local schools picture
- Provided an information board to explain the garden to visitors
- Provided 18th century style planters picture
Further details: see below and the article by Pauline Powell
The proposal by the Friends of the Porter's Garden to the Onyx Environmental Trust made on 21 October 2003
The proposal is to:- recycle a number of granite blocks
to provide three sculptured seats for the Garden. The basis of the
designs will be the cross sections of the three historic ships, Mary Rose,
HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Since the size of the blocks vary,
the size of the seats will be different and will fit into the available
spaces. The grey of the granite will also contrast nicely with the red
brick Dockyard Wall and make them stand out and invite interest, speculation
and use.
- A competition is being held for local schools to design a
Tudor style knot garden, which will be created around an existing Strawberry
Tree. An information pack and invitation to take part, was sent out
in late August and the designs are due in by the end of November. The children
will be invited to help with the construction and planting of the winning
design. The knot garden will enhance the visual appeal of the Porter's
Garden and links in with the National Curriculum Stage 2 History and the
whole exercise will encourage the children to become more involved with
the garden and the Tudor period.
- As part of The Friends educational remit, we have obtained
estimates from local firms to create two information boards to be placed
at either end of the garden to inform and explain to visitors the principles
behind the planting and design of the reconstructed Garden. This
will eliminate the need for signs within the Garden and help maintain the
atmosphere of a domestic garden.
- As there are a number of manhole covers awkwardly situated in the Garden. We are commissioning some 18th century planters from a local craftsman to stand on the covers and provide variety of planting and highlight small-scale seasonal planting of "florist's" flowers.
Funding sought from The Onyx Environmental Trust (including VAT): £11,000.00
Total cost of the project (including VAT): £12,357.40
Our skills, and experience in similar proposals
: The Friends Committee Members are:
A University lecturer in Naval History
An art teacher (retired)
Deputy Head teacher (retired)
Volunteer Researcher into garden history
Grade 7 Civil Servant (retired) Human Resources
Sub-mariner engineer (retired)
Accountants Administrator with Portsmouth RC Diocese
The Friends maintain ongoing
close links with Hampshire Gardens Trust.
The Chief Executive and Project Manager of Portsmouth Naval Base Property
Trust. Also on the Property Trust side are two eminent architects
who oversee all building and landscape projects in the Historic Garden
- Professor Sir William Whitfield CBE and Sir Colin Standsfield CBE
The Committee has all the skills associated with their jobs (current or previous) together with a considerable amount of life experience plus they are all keen gardeners.
The Committee has successfully organised and paid for two wrought iron gates manufactured and installed by a local craftsman.
Part 2 Project Details
If [a] public amenity is involved what is it? A Garden with public access in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Project Description
Summarise the activity that will be funded through the LTCS:
The project is to improve, develop and enhance the existing garden
by:
i. providing sculptured seating (see Appeal Fund leaflet attached
to hard copy)
ii. creating a knot garden around an existing Strawberry Tree,
designed by local schools
iii. providing two information boards to explain the garden to
visitors
iv. commissioning of 18th century style planters to stand on
manhole covers
Describe in detail the project and elements for which funding is
sought. Provide plans and any supporting information, attach additional
sheets if necessary:
The Porter's Garden, situated in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, was
designed by Robert Camlin in 1999 and has recently been recreated on the
site formerly occupied by the Dockyard Porter's garden. The Friends
of the Porter's garden took over the planting and gardening early in 2001
and have been enthusiastically digging, mowing, maintaining and filling
the new flower beds with period flowers ever since. Their main objective
is to recreate the Porter's garden with reference to its historical, educational
and recreational value. The Dockyard itself is situated in a deprived
area of Portsea with many flats with no gardens or green spaces for residents
to sit in, garden and enjoy. The Dockyard itself has few green space
and the Porter's Garden provides a haven of peace in the busy Dockyard
environment for dockyard workers, visitors and local people to enjoy.
Support comes from local schools, horticultural societies and organisations
and Portsmouth Parks and Gardens.
The proposal is to:
i. recycle a number of granite blocks
to provide three sculptured seats for the Garden. The basis of the
designs will be the cross sections of the three historic ships, Mary Rose,
HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Since the size of the blocks vary,
the size of the seats will be different and will fit into the available
spaces. The grey of the granite will also contrast nicely with the red
brick Dockyard Wall and make them stand out and invite interest, speculation
and use.
ii. A competition is being held for local schools to design a
Tudor style knot garden, which will be created around an existing Strawberry
Tree. An information pack and invitation to take part, was sent out
in late August and the designs are due in by the end of November. The children
will be invited to help with the construction and planting of the winning
design. The knot garden will enhance the visual appeal of the Porter's
Garden and links in with the National Curriculum Stage 2 History and the
whole exercise will encourage the children to become more involved with
the garden and the Tudor period.
iii. As part of The Friends educational remit, we have obtained
estimates from local firms to create two information boards to be placed
at either end of the garden to inform and explain to visitors the principles
behind the planting and design of the reconstructed Garden. This
will eliminate the need for signs within the Garden and help maintain the
atmosphere of a domestic garden.
iv. As there are a number of manhole covers awkwardly situated
in the Garden. We are commissioning some 18th century planters from a local
craftsman to stand on the covers and provide variety of planting and highlight
small-scale seasonal planting of "florist's" flowers.
Describe how the project will protect the:
Natural environment: The Porter's Garden will continue to be
maintained and developed by The Friends of the Porter's Garden in partnership
with the Property Trust and they will act in the capacity of guardians.
It is difficult to separate the natural and the built environment when
speaking about a garden. The two are inextricably linked and their
interaction is crucial to their successful development in the combined
setting of garden, historic buildings and dockyard wall.
The garden puts the built environment into context. It enhances
the buildings and safeguards against encroachment. The Dockyard Wall
is a Grade ll* listed building, the Lodge is Grade ll and the two statues
are Grade ll listed.
The regeneration of this end of the Dockyard to include the recreation
of the former Dockyard Porter's Garden has transformed the area altogether.
(It was previously a car park.) The garden is proving a refuge for
wildlife, blackbirds have nested this year and butterflies are a common
sight. We have also had a recent sighting of a humming bird moth.
It is popular with visitors, the local community and the dockyard staff
love it. It provides a haven of peace within the busy industrial
world of the dockyard and provides much needed opportunities for informal
recreation and relaxation for all.
How will the project benefit local people? By having an improved facility freely available in the Dockyard and the opportunity to learn about the Garden and it's facilities. There are no similar green spaces in the vicinity.
How many people currently use the facility and how many will use
it once the project is completed? The Historic Dockyard is open
all year (not Christmas Day) to the public free of charge (people only
pay if they wish to visit the Ships or Museums). About half a million
people visit each year, many of whom spend time in the Porter's Garden.
The garden is one of many attractions in the Renaissance of Portsmouth
Harbour scheme, which has received a high level of publicity in Building,
Tourist Destination and Architectural Trade Journals over the past two/three
years. The Historic Dockyard already benefits from spin-off trade
from nearby Gunwharf Quays designer outlet shopping centre, and the new
Portsmouth Millennium Tower currently under construction just five minutes
walk away will bring more visitors to Portsmouth.
The number of visitors will further increase over the next decade as
the MoD releases more land and buildings into the public domain and the
Historic Dockyard diversifies to include private residential accommodation,
hotel and conference facilities, additional exhibition space and more restaurants,
wine bars, retail outlets etc.
Explain how the public will have access to the facility and how you plan to encourage Public access: Access is through visiting the Historic Dockyard. Public access will be encouraged by enhancing the facilities in the Garden by the provision of the elements of the Project, particularly the new seating, and increasing public awareness of the aims and character of the Garden.
Project Management
Funding
What funds have you secured for this project so far?
i. £1000.00 pledged from Hampshire Gardens Trust
ii. £750.00 raised by the Sculptured Seating Appeal
iii. £900.00 from the Portsmouth Children's Fund (ring
fenced)
What plans do you have for further fundraising?
Funds are raised by:
Plant sales, events in the Garden, Donations, The Friends of the Porter's
Garden Membership
Subscriptions, Sale of the book of Morello Cherry Recipes (currently
in production)
Who will carry out the work? Please give names and addresses,
if known:
Roger Stephens Sculpture and Stonemason
Pipers Drier Studio
Clareden Park
Salisbury, SP5 3EW
Mick Pinner - Architectural Ceramics
West Meon Pottery
Lippen Hill, Church Lane
West Meon, GU32 1JW
Attach a budget for the total cost of the project and a cost breakdown
over time for elements seeking LTCS funding. Indicate the VAT status
of the costs. The following breakdown of costs must be included:
Staff Costs; Consumable Items; Capital Equipment; Sub-contracts (if any);
Travel and Subsistence; Overheads; Other Charges (to be specified) and
Total Project Costs. All anticipated income must also be shown.
Itemised Budget, Proposed payment Schedule and Cash Flow (includes
VAT and all other charges)
| Element | First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Total amount | |
| Sculptured seats | £1292.50 | £8764.80 | £942.70 | £11,000.00 | |
| 2x information boards | £332.20 | - | - | £332.20 | |
| 2x24" pots | £258.50 | £258.50 | £517.00 | ||
| Knot garden | £169.40 | £169.40 | £169.40 | £508.20 | |
| Total | £2052.60 | £9192.70 | £1112.1 | £12,357.40 |
If applicable, give the name and address of the third party contributor
and their relationship to the project.
The third party contribution is a reimbursement to the Landfill Operator
(Onyx) that funds the Trust.
Hampshire Gardens Trust
Jermyns House
Interested Party
Jermyns Lane
Ampfield, Romsey, Hants
SO51 0QA
Publicity
Please outline possible promotional opportunities for the Trust that
may arise through the allocation of grant to your project. Include
press releases and articles, installation of a plaque on completion, photo
opportunities and opening ceremony etc.
i. An article in the Portsmouth News (we have had several in
the recent past)
ii. An article in First Base, the Dockyard House magazine
iii. A Press release
iv. A commemorative plaque
v. Opening ceremony by the Portsmouth Deputy Mayor, who performed
the official opening ceremony in 2001 and has maintained close links ever
since.
vi. An item on the Porter's Garden our web site; www.hants.org.uk/portersgarden
Our web site is also linked to the main Historic Dockyard web site,
which is visited by thousands each year.
The completed garden project will be entered for awards like the Portsmouth Society Best Restoration. (The Historic Dockyard has already won a number of these.) The Porter's Garden has also, for the last two years, won the Award of Merit in its class, in the Portsmouth and Southsea in Bloom competition.
The Friends Committee is actively engaged in forging links with high profile gardeners including Brian Kidd and Alan Titchmarsh who has visited the garden twice this year.
Once the project is complete we intend to invite BBC 4's Gardeners Question Time to broadcast a future programme from the Historic Dockyard.
I understand that any grant made to my organisation will be subject to the limitations imposed from time to time by the Finance Act 1996, Part VII of the Landfill Tax Regulations 1996 and any other legislation or regulations issued subsequently which may affect grants made by environmental bodies.
Name of organisation: The Friends of the Porter's Garden
Date: 21 October 2003