Leathermarket Gardens

I have just had my sandwich lunch in Redcross Gardens. I think that this is the model for future greenspace. It is locked securely each evening and the BOST people do a great job in keeping it pristine. On alcohol; they have a note on the noticeboard saying it is not allowed, apart from official events. I think this is fair and I hope they apply it to those of us who will share a bottle of wine with a picnic and those who drink differently.

On the subject of councils and officialdom, I believe that the budget for Redcross gardens was £400,000. I wonder how much went on the 'process' and how much was invested in the garden? It seems to me that making a success such as redcross is an agonising process, both lengthy and expensive. Is there another way?

Red Cross Garden received more than £500,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Gulp !

And those lovely people on BBC's 'Ground Force' transformed a neglected garden into a Jungle oasis with waterfalls, a deck and live monkeys for just £ 23 !

In 2 days !



(Tongue in cheek)

The Waterloo Millennium Green is also locked at night and opened in the morning. It doesn't seem to make any difference, they just climb over the fence. In fact I think the guy who locks the gates doesn't even bother to try to make sure they leave, he just locks them in (probably fed up of trying to take on 20+ drunks with no police help). There are signs to say no drinking as well. Again, just ignored... The space has turned into their own private garden

The Gardens have improved enormously, during the last few years, with new features and a proper path running by the childrens' playpark. We are very fortunate to have this facility and a team of gardeners who clearly like their work.

However, there is a definite proliferation of dog-mess which is bad enough at this time of year - but come the summer, it is not going to be a very pleasant place to picnic.

I have also noticed more people walking across the circle, rather than using the path that runs around it - saving all of 15 seconds in their travels. There is a discernable trail forming and it will eventually turn into the same muddy mess that ran by the play area for years, which would be very sad.

Would people be averse to having some small, but clear, signage about both these in different areas of the park?

Sounds sensible to me....they are indeed very pleasant and in the Summer are full of people enjoying them. Getting people to use them properly would only be a bonus.

Lambeth Ban Street Drinking

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/6012

Any possibility this could also happen in Leathermarket Gardens?

Philpotts24 wrote:

I have also noticed more people walking across the circle, rather than using the path that runs around it - saving all of 15 seconds in their travels. There is a discernable trail forming and it will eventually turn into the same muddy mess that ran by the play area for years, which would be very sad.

Would people be averse to having some small, but clear, signage about both these in different areas of the park?

There is a 'trail' but the foot traffic is not that heavy and I have never seen anything like the outcome you predict. I have no problem with people choosing to walk across that patch or sitting on it.

I do dislike a suggestion that the place is adorned with notices, no matter how discrete, which only add to the proliferation of missives in our environment which try to direct our behaviour, either instructing us to 'do' or 'not do' something.

If you are hell bent on stopping people cutting a few seconds from their travels, perhaps consider some additional planting with the aim of breaking up the route straight across - that may at least enhance the place visually.

spartacus wrote:

I do dislike a suggestion that the place is adorned with notices, no matter how discrete, which only add to the proliferation of missives in our environment which try to direct our behaviour, either instructing us to 'do' or 'not do' something.

If you are hell bent on stopping people cutting a few seconds from their travels, perhaps consider some additional planting with the aim of breaking up the route straight across - that may at least enhance the place visually.

100% agree.

I do too...however I dislike more drunks defecating and uriniting in the gardens in full daylight...not that these guys are going to take any notice of anything put up, but it may encourage local security to be a bit more proactive given that these things happen on a regular basis, especially during the Summer months.