Rineys, the Council’s contractors who will be carrying out the works on Arnold Circus, will be taking some soil samples in the gardens on Monday 9th November. They will be digging two small holes to a maximum depth of 70cm in two places – one on the top tier near the perimeter railings and one in one of the lower planting beds – to confirm the soil satisfies the Council’s health and safety requirements. The holes will be covered up immediately afterwards.
LDA Design have developed detailed planting proposals based on discussions with local gardeners. Please write any comments about the plans below on the blog, or email to finnwilliams@hotmail.com. All comments will be relayed to the designers on Wednesday 18th November.
Click on the image for a higher quality version
Planting Plan
Please click on the link to view a PDF copy of the minutes for the October Trustees meeting.
SUNDAY 11TH. 1.30-5.00 3 1/2HRS.
There will be not too much to do with the plants this autumn as have already cut back most of the of dead flowers. The main job will be clearing the leaves when they get too much or they will smother the smaller plants.
The other big job will be removing some of plants before the renovation work starts, during which the beds will be completely dug over and most remaining plants lost. We plan to keep what plants are worth saving and can be safely moved ( and have room for storing), for possible replanting once the work is complete – depending on whether appropriate and there is space. I have been collecting seeds from most plants.
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There is a wonderful carpet mosaic installed inside bandstand. 
Things look pretty good, not many flowers but things looking green after recent rain. Bulbs are growing.
Cleared litter. Quite a few bottles & cans on beds. Several dogpoos on surfaces and beds but not a lot.
Then with Patrick, cleared all the masses of leaves from the paths etc. where they had built up against the railings, also sweeping up fag ends etc. as well as the leaves around the bandstand railings. (Don’t think Fountains have cleared the leaves yet this year).
SUNDAY 18TH. 1.30-5.00 3 1/2HRS.
The carpet in bandstand still there and looking wonderful. Maybe that’s the solution to stop litter etc. in it – have it carpeted!
The beds are looking green, especially upper S.E. where things are growing back after all the clearing done there by the Council. Some Musk Mallow and Cyclamen are still in flower.
I cleared litter, mainly bottles and cans from the beds, but also all the litter around the surrounding pavement. Although not gardening, it all helps to make the Circus a nice place to be. Found just one dogturd this week – maybe an all time low.
With Jean & Patrick and help from Peter and Robin, we moved Jean’s big tin planters into position on the estate and partially filled with rubble, sand and soil, ready for moving some plants from the Circus to, for storing during renovation.
With Patrick, cleared leaves from some areas where they have been building up covering the plants on the beds.
SUNDAY 25TH. 11.00-11.30 & 1.30-4.00 3HRS
Bagged up & brought 8 bags soil from a garden I saw was being excavated & with help from Jean & Peter put it in planters.
The carpet gone from bandstand – that’s a pity as it brightened it up and everybody liked it.
Jean collected litter. I collected up dogpoos from paths & beds, also a nasty human one from the path. Also swept up in Bandstand, broken glass etc.
Patrick clipped shrubs lower SE and collected some leaves, I cut back flowers & collected seeds.
Some Musk Mallow still in flower. The light can look good through the grasses and other plants at this time of year.
The twisted trunk Cotoneasters will soon be going. 
Things will look different after the renovation, but could look really good.
Go and take a look at the windows of 25 Calvert Avenue. We spent this morning sweeping it out and washing its windows,
and then putting up information, pictures and poems about the changes around Arnold Circus. You can trace how the area has changed from the 1700s up till now in the windows. We’ll do our best to keep it up to date, to keep you up to date with what’s planned.
