New Lease of Life for Dollis Hill House

Hazelle Jackson writes:

In North London the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given a Stage 1 pass award for a grant of £1.2million for the important London landmark, Dollis Hill House in the London Borough of Brent, to help save it from demolition and return the Regency manor to the community.

Dollis Hill House

Dollis Hill House was originally built in 1825 on top of a hill in what is now Gladstone Park. It was Prime Minister William Gladstone's former residence and Mark Twain's favoured retreat in the 19th century. The Regency villa, still largely intact, is surrounded by what the famous American writer Mark Twain described as "noble trees" with panoramic vistas over London.

Enjoying stunning and uninterrupted views as far as St Paul's Cathedral and Wembley Stadium, the mansion was an important part of community life between the wars. Until 1974 it was used as a tea room and restaurant and then as a catering college. Sadly, it has lain empty and disused since closure in 1989, and has even been the victim of several arson attacks in recent years.

The HLF funds will enable Training for Life, the award-winning social enterprise charity, to work closely with the Dollis Hill House Trust and Brent Council to develop plans to save the building and return it to its former glory.

The Grade II listed house can now look forward to being faithfully restored and extended, removed from the English Heritage 'at risk' register, and returned to its former use as a tearoom and restaurant.

'Absolutely Thrilled'

Gill Close, Chair of the Dollis Hill House Trust, said: "After local people have worked for almost 20 years to save Dollis Hill House, we are absolutely thrilled that our partnership with Training For Life is finally going to bring the house back to being the vibrant heart of Gladstone Park and the local community for all to enjoy."

Commenting on the award Cllr Paul Lorber, Leader of Brent Council said: "The council is delighted on behalf of Training for Life that their bid has found favour with the Heritage Lottery Fund. This brings them a step closer to restoring Dollis Hill House for local people."

The restoration of Dollis Hill House will see this area of London fully regenerated following a recent £722,000 HLF grant for the restoration of Gladstone Park in 2002. The Dollis Hill House Trust was set up by members of the local community to restore the house for the benefit of the community.

For further info see the websites

• www.brent-heritage.co.uk/dollis_hill_ house.htm
• www.dollishillhouse.org.uk

Greenwich Olympic 'Circus'

Chris Sumner writes:

Also encouraging is the Mayor's intention to review the 2012 Olympics proposals, the prospective costs of which are continually mounting. One of the first things that he and his advisers may like to review is the preposterous proposal to use Greenwich Park as the venue for the equestrian events.

Greenwich Park is small by Royal Parks standards, and acts much more than any of the other Royal Parks as a recreation ground for local people as well as being a draw for tourists and the setting for an unequalled assemblage of historic buildings.

It is clear that the only reason for the enthusiasm of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games for using Greenwich Park is that the palaces built by Inigo Jones, Wren, Hawksmoor, et al. would provide great photo opportunities. So, while the horses are trampling the archaeology and the crowds and the Portaloos and the international television crew vans are compacting the tree roots, the world can be treated to a few hours of Palladian and Baroque backdrop, no doubt accompanied by Vivaldi, or will it be Purcell for local colour? How pathetic! Where are the local children and families and dogs and joggers going to play and run and picnic for the fifteen months that much of the park will be out of commission? Has LOCOG seen how busy the park gets, especially at weekends?

The Queen's House and Greenwich Palace: 
the backdrop to the Olympic equestrian events 

Is it any consolation that the present government will no longer be the hosts by 2012? Not really, given the apparent alternative, but the likelihood of the current lot's being out on their ear sooner or later may encourage the agencies tasked with advising the government to take a longer-term view, and to express their reservations rather less equivocally than to date.

Le Notre failed to grasp the nature of Greenwich Park, but he had the excuse of never having visited it and seen its steep asymmetry. He knew nothing about its unstable geology, and would not have cared about the archaeology or the concerns of the local people. LOCOG has no such excuses, and must be shown that Greenwich Park is much too important to be sacrificed for the Olympic five-ring circus.

Tall Tales from London Town

Chris Sumner writes:

A recent trip to Covent Garden to see Simone Boccanegra led me to wonder whether there were parallels between the struggle for power between the Patricians and Plebeians of mediaeval Italy and those of modern London, and whether Harrison Birtwhistle might do for Boris and Ken what Verdi did for the sparring Doges of Genoa.

Any parallels of irregular love lives, ruthless egos and (character) assassination of the protagonists are perhaps better not explored, but high buildings were an issue in San Gimignano, where each family vied to build higher than its neighbour, and the civic life and the traffic of Siena were and still are disrupted by the annual Paglio horse race.

London has its high buildings threats and its prospective Olympic equestrian events, so some things remain evergreen. Boris Johnson seems less ready than his predecessor to subscribe to the myth that every attractive park and river vista in London would be enhanced by a disproportionately tall new building, and the Richmond Park Conservatives' newsletter carries the encouraging headline BORIS BACKS THE VIEW..

"The iconic keyhole view of St Paul's Cathedral from King Henry's Mound in Richmond Park has been reprieved and will be protected... an assurance from Boris Johnson... that not only would he reverse the assaults made by Ken Livingstone but he would also vigorously ensure that there will be no infringements of the original viewing corridor".

Well, we shall see, but it sounds like good news, as does the new Mayor's announced intention to spend £6m on London's parks.

Green Flag winners announced for 2008

A record 743 green spaces across the country, all freely accessible to the public, have received a Green Flag Award - the national standard for quality parks and green spaces. Winners are judged to be welcoming and well maintained with the support and involvement of the local community.

There are 151 winners in Greater London, including the following Open Garden Squares Weekend participants:

• Camley Street Natural Park, London Wildlife Trust
• Canons Park, London Borough of Harrow
• Eden at St. Paul's Churchyard, London Borough of Lambeth
• Edward Square, London Borough of Islington
• Myddelton House Gardens, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
• Rembrandt Gardens, City of Westminster
• Russell Square Gardens, London Borough of Camden
• St Martin's Gardens, London Borough of Camden
• The Wildlife Garden, The Natural History Museum
• Victoria Embankment Gardens, City of Westminster

For the complete list, please see http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/winners/greater-london/

The scheme is currently expanding nationally and internationally - three parks in Northern Ireland, one park in the Republic of Ireland, five parks in Scotland and two parks in Holland have this year also received a Green Flag Award due to ambitious pilot projects.

This year’s winners were announced from Green Flag Award-winning Bellingham Green, in an area of Lewisham highlighted by government as a transformed area of regeneration, demonstrating how residents working together with public agencies can transform deprived neighbourhoods. The Green is vibrant, lively and has significantly improved the livelihood and well-being of the local community.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Andrews said:

“I would like to congratulate all those whose hard work has resulted in this year’s green flag winners. In our busy modern lives, parks and green spaces are invaluable as areas where young and old can come together to relax, exercise and play.

“Bellingham Green is a great example of this and shows just how important green spaces can be for everyone in the community. The regeneration of green spaces is just as important as the creation of new ones and Bellingham Green is a shining example of how we can take up this challenge and transform no-go areas into centre-points of the community.”

Postcards from the Park

Following the success of last year’s Postcards from the Park competition, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) have again joined forces with GreenSpace to re-launch this exciting photo competition.

The organizers have £1,000 in Jessops vouchers up for grabs for the lucky overall winner, and all regional and country finalists and runners-up will have their photos professionally curated for a national exhibition. They’ll also be turned into postcards, which will be distributed at Lottery-funded venues across the UK.

To take part, just log onto www.postcardsfromthepark.org.uk to enter, and to find tips on how to take that perfect photo. You can also take a photo on your mobile phone and send it in by MMS. Text PARKS, followed by your name and where you’ve taken your photo in the subject header, to 07803 851 600. The MMS is charged at your operator’s standard rate.

The closing date is 1 August 2008 – so get snapping!

Discover London's Secret Open Spaces

Visitors will have a rare opportunity to peer behind the walls of many of London's private community gardens and squares over the weekend of 7 and 8 June during Transport for London Open Garden Squares Weekend. Over 170 venues will take part, offering a range of horticultural delights and curiosities including formal set-pieces, typical English flower gardens and the prison gardens at Holloway, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs.

Organised by the London Parks & Gardens Trust, the event aims to celebrate London's open spaces and highlight the important contribution they make to the life of the capital. Transport for London is supporting the event and encouraging people to make the most of their visit with the help of the walking journey planner www.tfl.gov.uk/walkingjourneyplanner .

Gardens taking part in the annual event for the first time range from former stately homes to private courtyards. Highlights include:

• 13 acres of lawn and gardens still reflecting the 18th-century landscape design at Fulham Palace, the home of the Bishops of London until 1973
• the walled gardens at Charlton House, one of the finest surviving Jacobean manor houses in England
• Hothouse Loddiges Garden - dedicated to the Loddiges family, who managed one of the most notable 18th and 19th century plant nurseries, with planting based on illustrations from the 18th century periodical The Botanical Cabinet by Conrad Loddiges
• Conisbee Courtyard - featuring a vertically planted wall, an experimental rubble roof and central water feature. Designed by Landscape Architect / Garden Designer Marie Clarke
• Maggie's Centre - which will open in April 2008 and offer support to those affected by cancer. The building has been designed by Lord Rogers and the garden by celebrated garden designer Dan Pearson
• The sunken gardens in Malet Street, which offer a haven of peace in the bustling Bloomsbury area
• Waterlow Court - designed in 1904 by the architect H.M. Baillie Scott as part of the development of what are now Grade-II* listed Edwardian cloistered flats originally commissioned by the Industrial Model Dwellings Company as a communal residence for professional single women
• The formal garden and Old Varieties Orchard at Heathfield in Croydon

Old favourites such as Edwardes Square, the hidden gardens of Notting Hill, Garden Barge Square and the artistic Bonnington Square will once again participate in the 2008 Open Gardens Squares Weekend.

Date:

Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 2008

Venues:

Over 170 gardens and squares in London

Tickets:

£6.00 advance - one ticket allows entry to all venues over entire Weekend.
Advance ticket hotline 020 8347 3230 (Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm) and on-line booking provided by Capital Gardens (www.capitalgardens.co.uk) until Monday 2nd June.
£7.50 on the weekend from the Britain and London Visitor Centre, 1 Regent Street, SW1Y 4XT, and selected gardens.

Information:

www.opensquares.org

Additional Information

• Full details about all the participating gardens and squares are included in the guide which is given free with tickets. Information can also be found at www.opensquares.org along with the latest on special events.
• Open Garden Squares Weekend is run by the London Parks & Gardens Trust to raise awareness of the significant social, cultural, environmental and economic contribution that squares make to the capital and its inhabitants. The Trust provides a centre for education, research, and creative projects for the improvement and conservation of London's green urban spaces. www.londongardenstrust.org
• In 2008 Open Garden Squares Weekend celebrates its 10th Anniversary. Originally London Garden Square Day, it was initiated in 1998 by a local resident who imagined a day 'when all the gardens could be open to the public when local communities could celebrate the day with fêtes and fairs'. 40 private garden squares participated in the first year.
• The London garden square is one of the capital's most popular and valuable features, with a rich history stretching back to 1631 when the Covent Garden Piazza was completed. By the late 18th century the square design had been perfected, with Bedford Square, WC2, a shining example. For further information, please see www.londongardenstrust.org/history/squares.htm
• In addition to private and limited access gardens and squares, a selection of public gardens will participate in the event.

Kew and British Museum combine to cultivate China in the heart of London

In a unique partnership, the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have conjured up a stunning China landscape in the forecourt of the British Museum this summer. The landscape celebrates the two institutions' shared vision to strengthen cultural understanding and support biodiversity conservation across the world. The experts at Kew have selected and provided the plants and design, the British Museum has provided curatorial expertise and the location. The landscape follows on from the successful Africa Garden created in 2005, and future collaborative projects are planned.

Inspired by the collections of both Kew and the British Museum, the landscape reveals some of the connections between China’s natural habitat and its culture. Trees, shrubs and flowers are both cultural symbols and resources, used for building materials, food, drink, clothing and medicine. The landscape is a celebration of natural beauty and the bounty it provides. Visitors are able to wander around the fragrant trails of wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), admire the beautiful White Mulberry (Morus alba) and historic handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata), whilst also absorbing a strong conservation and sustainability message.

Most of the plants selected by the experts at Kew are native to the mountains of Sichuan province in south-west China and have been chosen for both their natural beauty and for the active role they play in China’s cultural identity. The landscape features an example of a maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), the only surviving member of the ancient group of plants which was widespread at the same time as the dinosaurs, 180-200 million years ago. They have only been saved from extinction through cultivation and today provide a range of medicinal benefits; they are used for treating chronic coughs and asthma and leaf extracts are used to treat circulatory problems and memory loss.

Conservation is a strong theme in the landscape. The handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) is beautiful but also vulnerable in the wild; in 1899, an amateur British botanist in China alerted Kew to the alarming impact that the charcoal industry was having on the forests of Yunnan province, home of the handkerchief tree. Although now widespread in cultivation as an ornamental, thanks to botanists and horticulturalists worldwide, the handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) continues to be classified as a rare tree in the wild.

Visitors are also able to learn about the economic properties of plants in this beautiful landscape. Bamboo (notably Phyllostachys aurea and P. nigra) is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth and treated bamboo is strong and lightweight. In China it is used to make everything from chopsticks, hats and musical instruments to houses, bridges and scaffolding. Its fibres are used for paper, fabric and medicine. The young shoots are edible, the sap is made into sweet wine and the leaves are used as food wrappers. Bamboo features in Chinese culture as a symbol of integrity and outstanding character, it bends in the wind but never breaks. A lacquer tree (Rhus verniciflua) is also on display. These are cultivated for their sap, which is used to make a durable coating called lacquer. Lacquer can be polished to a high gloss, and the sap can be coloured by adding the mineral cinnabar or carbon black to make red and black. The seeds and leaves are used in Chinese medicine to treat internal parasites and to stop bleeding

China is famous for its classical scholar’s gardens – picturesque places suited for social gatherings and silent contemplation. This tradition is reflected in the landscape by the inclusion of a trellis, a scholar’s rock that symbolically evokes the power of a mountain, and a rock inscribed with calligraphy - because no Chinese landscape is complete without a touch of poetry. The landscape also directs visitors to the Museum’s Chinese collections, where it is possible to see some of the plants used to make objects (lacquer and bamboo) or to see them as art motifs (chrysanthemums, willow trees and peonies) depicted on a range of ceramic objects. A huge contemporary rock sculpture by the artist Zhan Wang, on display in the Great Court, complements the garden alongside the temporary exhibition ‘Fascination with Nature’ in room 91, featuring wonderful examples of Chinese nature paintings.

After the closure of the landscape on 26th October, Camden Council will relocate many of the plants to Brunswick Square and Kew Gardens as a lasting legacy of the China Landscape. The Landscape is in association with China Now.