Tower and Town, July 2018

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The Town's Riverside (2)

Val Compton tells of a complementary project

The Waterfront Garden in Kennet Place is a serendipitous little project that came about quite unexpectedly, when the flood wall was installed and we had a widened grass verge. As a neighbourhood, we were still feeling pretty miserable about losing sight of our beautiful river – a wall blocking our view was really not what we had wanted. However, neither was the thought of flood water in our houses very appealing.

After the oak clad installation was completed, some top quality turf was laid and we set about cheering ourselves up. We started with a communal daffodil planting session as soon as the last truck drove out of Kennet Place. A couple of flowering tubs were added to enhance the manhole covers. I began to dream -- possibilities emerged in my mind for a communal garden.

Gradually, since January 2014, we have formed a group, written a constitution and raised funds endlessly. Having been given permission to work on both sides of the wall, we liaised with Action for the River Kennet, who foraged for suitable marginal plants we wanted and after much research, we also purchased wild flower turf. We were duly rewarded with an increase in wildlife which included water vole and kingfishers along with the ducks, heron, little egret, moorhens and coots. In 2016 we shared first prize for Southwest in Bloom’s most outstanding environmental project. Result!

In the cultivated garden, we have beds of perennials, a bike planter, shrubs, three stunning displays (supplied by Superior Plants) and more. There are two little tables for anyone to use for picnics, or just to sit by the river and relax, plus a community table for Kennet Place residents to get together.

We love where we live – and hope you will visit us!

Val Compton