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HOW TO HOLD AN EVENT IN
HALSTEAD PUBLIC GARDENS:
Did you know that the gardens are available for outdoor hire?
Information for you or your organisation to arrange an event
in this park is available from the Parks and Open Spaces
Manager on 01376 332314 or send an email to customer services
csc@braintree.gov.uk
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Events Programme 2010
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Events at Halstead Public Gardens 2009
Halstead Tai Chi Group enjoying a class in the
Gardens
Children's Fun Fair held on the Dancing Green
"Music in the Park", this is now an annual event in the
park with a fun day for children and stalls during the day too -
all organised by the Empire Theatre Trust
Relaxing on a fine summer's day to the music of the Long Melford
Silver Band, playing from the restored Bandstand
Carols in the Gardens at the end of the Torchlight
Procession through the town
Many successful events, of varying sizes and for a range of
interests and age groups, have taken place in recent years, (coming
soon - click here to see more photos...)
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Friends of Halstead
Public Gardens
Evolved in 2001 from the Management Group, originally involved
in the restoration of the Gardens, the Friends Group includes
representatives of Halstead Town Council, Braintree District
Council, Halstead in Bloom and Halstead Conservation Volunteers;
the Friends would welcome new members to become more representative
of the community. The group hold local meetings on a regular
basis.
If you would like to join the "Friends" group and get involved
and take up the opportunity to help inform the arrangements for the
management, maintenance and future development of the Gardens
please contact the Secretary, Linda Hilton on tel.
01787 473524 or email:
linda.hilton@cablackwell.co.uk,
or Braintree District Council's Parks and Open Spaces Manager
on tel. 01376 332314
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A brief history
of the Gardens:
Halstead Public Gardens were opened in 1901 with a layout that was
intended to provide pleasing grounds in which recreation and the
quiet pursuits of strolling and relaxing could be enjoyed.
Photograph of the Gardens in 1902, showing a gnarled
apple tree which had been incorporated in the design, a remnant
from the old orchard which had previously occupied the
site
The maturing layout amply succeeds in this respect. Entry into
the park at each of the gates is through substantial boundary
plantings, which provide a backdrop within which a network of paths
link the key features many dating from the earliest days of the
park. Specimen trees have been set out and their broad canopies now
provide, on sunny days, areas of shadow in contrast to the areas of
open grass. Colourful annual bedding and roses also feature.
The park was fully restored for the benefit and use of the
community in 2001 with the aid of a major grant from the Heritage
Lottery Fund together with Braintree District, Halstead Town and
Essex County Council funding.
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TW Sanders FRHS,
FNAGA, 1855-1926:
The Gardens were designed by TW
Sanders, president of the National Amateur Gardener’s Association,
a landscape designer, horticultural adjudicator, editor of Amateur
Gardening (from 1887 until his death) and author of the classic
Encyclopaedia of Gardening (first published in 1895). Sanders was
keen to display plants naturally and scorned designs, which he
considered to be ‘old-fashioned’ and overly contrived.
TW Sanders produced two sets of plans, one of which was selected
in May 1899. No drawing has yet been found to show the details of
the park layout but an original specification survives.
Read more about TW Sanders on the
London Borough of Lewisham website, or the
People of Martley: Thomas (W) Sanders F.L.S,
F.R.H.S page of the About Martley website.
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Read more about the historical
development of the Gardens...
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Improving
Biodiversity:
The Council has sought to protect and increase the biodiversity of
the gardens in a number of ways...
- A wide range of plants have been included in the Gardens;
the Tree Report 2006 lists more than thirty different species
of tree - Holly, Purple Plum, Silver Birch, Cherry, Sweet Gum,
Silver Fir, Willow, Beech, Horse Chestnut, Lime, Laburnum, Crab
Apple, Maple, Honey Locust, Sycamore, Oak, Magnolia, Ginkgo,
Whitebeam, Mountain Ash, Ash, Plane, Yew, Palm, False Cypress,
Snowy Mespilus, False Acacia, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Cedar,
Paulownia, Cypress
Gingko Tree and the Green Flag, near the main
entrance (photograph by Julia
Smith)
- Pond surveys have been undertaken and four further bird surveys
are planned in 2010 and thereafter. The results of the first
bird survey in January were uploaded to the RSPB website and so
will contribute to the
national bird
survey
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Bird Survey Results
- Bird boxes have been installed to encourage birds into the
gardens and more boxes will be installed in 2010
- Pesticide use has been minimised, and the use of herbicides is
avoided
- Bat boxes have been installed to encourage bats into the
gardens
- Log piles will be installed shortly to provide habitats for
invertebrates
Further ways to increase biodiversity, such as "bug
hotels'" are being investigated.
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