CIVIC GARDEN COMMUNITY GARDEN CONCEPT DESIGN Site • The approx half hectare (5000m2) site occupies the demolished former

Civic Offices. It has been made available for community use by RBC until it is re-developed – a possible 2-5 years. (A)

• Reading Police are taking the lead for developing the site in collaboration with RISC’s Food4Families (F4F) project which has created over 20 community garden sites throughout Reading.

• The developers have laid a 25cm layer of topsoil over 25cm subsoil on top of the demolition surface. This was seeded with native meadow grass and flower mix1. The boundary has been planted with a hedge of native shrubs2. (B)

• In the initial survey in mid-March the uncompacted soil was very soft and wet in places but as the grass has established and the soil settled, the surface is now much firmer. There are some signs of gullying and longer term there may be problems with drainage in winter (C).

• At ground level the site is bounded by a service road, bin store, underground car park, IDR and The Hexagon patio. It is enclosed by a combination of 2.4m wire security fencing and 1.15m high wooden rail & sheep wire fence. (D)

• The site is overlooked by a pedestrian walkway serving The Hexagon, Police Station and Magistrates’ Courts. There is a concrete staircase leading down to the garden level. There is also access via a service road. (E)

• Most of the site is south facing. (F) • Two mature trees from the original landscaping survive on the northern

boundary. (G) • Developers have created a hexagonal seating area surrounded with a

range of ornamental perennials accessed from The Hexagon patio. (H) Purpose • The garden will provide opportunities for a wide range of users, eg young

children, families, people with learning difficulties and disabilities, BME communities, to grow organic fruit and vegetables. There will be ample opportunities to increase social cohesion.

• It will be a demonstration hub, showing how community gardens can maximize their impact.

• It will provide opportunities for people to learn a wide range of horticultural skills – from growing fruit and veg to making compost, plant propagation and tree pruning – that can be applied in their own gardens.

• The garden will be an outdoor classroom for local schools. The design will and maximise it’s educational value through the hard landscaping and choice of planting, so that it provides learning opportunities across the whole curriculum. Interpretation materials around the site will enable garden users to understand the key features. Themed work sheets will be developed to reinforce learning.

• The design will incorporate a performance space that can be used by the Hexagon and other groups.

• The hard landscaping will illustrate way in which people can reduce their environmental footprint and help address climate change mitigation and adaption. There will be particular emphasis on using re-used, renewable and recycled materials. People will be encouraged to adopt these methods at home.

• The garden will show how people can increase their food security. There will be examples of how to grow food intensively in containers and in small spaces, eg balconies.

• The garden should also be a convivial space for people to meet and recuperate from stresses of life.

• The Police and F4F have already made contact with community groups, revealing a keen interest in using such a facility. These include local schools, Reading City of Sanctuary, The Hexagon, The Forgotten British Gurkha. Local businesses have expressed an interest in contributing people and resources to support the construction.

• The Police will use the garden with young people on non-custodial sentences.

The concept design • As far as possible the hard landscaping will use renewable, re-used, and

recycled materials. When the site is re-developed many of the elements can be dismantled and used in other school and community gardens.

• An amphitheatre has been incorporated after The Hexagon expressed an interest in having an outdoor performance space. The designated area is framed by two tall deciduous trees (maple?) and is over looked by the pedestrian walkway. It has been located away from the traffic noise from the IDR. Construction will be from re-used Grade A untreated tropical hardwood sleepers and will require a large amount of additional substrate to form the shape. (I)

• Tools will be stored in a 2x2m metal Expandastore. Additional 2.4m wire security fencing would increase security.

• A forest garden occupies the remaining south facing section of the garden. Heritage fruit trees will be planted in large plastic containers to facilitate later re-location. These will be underplanted with edible shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Cardboard and a woodchip mulch will be laid to control weeds.

• A rustic path will meander through the area. This will be edged with hardwood cordwood and surfaced with Mypex membrane overlaid with woodship.

• The raised vegetable beds will be made from re-used scaffold boards treated with Ecowood preservative to prolong their useable life. The veg growing area can be accessed from the Hexagon patio area. This will encourage theatre goers to enjoy the space. The budget will determine the finish to the paths surrounding the beds. The cheapest option will be Mypex and woodchip. Some 60cm high raised beds can be included to accommodate wheelchair users. These would require a more substantial hoggin hard standing. (J)

• Compost bins will dispose of green waste from the garden. The pest control company who are responsible for the area indicate that bins in the

centre of the site are unlikely to encourage vermin. • To emphasise the sustainable credentials of the garden and reduce

running costs the garden will use harvested rainwater. The drainage system of the elevated pedestrian walkway is not suitable because the pipework is blocked and rusted. The preferred alternative is to tap the downpipe running on the inside of the buttresses that support the Hexagon roof. (K) This would feed a series of re-used International Bulk Containers (IBCs) that would provide a gravity-fed drip irrigation system and conventional watering. (L) These will act as a heat store and provide an ideal trellis for edible climbers.

• A 6m diameter hexagonal pergola in the centre of the veg beds will provide a framework for edible climbers, eg kiwi & grape, as well as summer shade and a place for gardeners to relax and rest. (M) Benches made from green oak sleepers will provide sturdy economical seating.

• The veg growing area can be expanded if demand increases. • The remaining area can be left as a wild flower meadow. This needs to be

mown only after the grass and flowers have set their seed. Paths in the long grass can be mown in meandering patterns to encourage children into the space.

• There are a number of un-used information pillars on the pedestrian walkway. These can be used to hold interpretation material explaining the sustainable features of the garden and help raise awareness of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Students from the Typography Dept of the UoR may help with the design of these materials. (N)

• A website would need to be created to provide information, encourage people to come and grow their own and provide teaching materials for schools.

• Access and security are major issues that need to be addressed. Approx 100m of the boundary is formed by a low wooden/wire fence that can easily be climbed. A field gate needs to be opened onto the site and a system for managing access, especially the lockable toolstore, established.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

1Wildflowers Achillea millefolium, Yarrow Agrostemma githago, Corncockle Anthemis austriaca, Corn Chamomile Centaurea cyanus, Cornflower Centaurea nigra, Common Knapweed Daucus carota, Wild Carrot Galium verum, Lady's Bedstraw Glebionis segetum, Corn Marigold Leucanthemum vulgare, Oxeye Daisy Papaver rhoeas, Common Poppy Prunella vulgaris, Selfheal Ranunculus acris, Meadow Buttercup Rumex acetosa, Common Sorrel Silene dioica, Red Campion Grasses Agrostis capillaris, Common Bent Cynosurus cristatus, Crested Dogstail Festuca rubra, Slender-creeping Red-fescue Phleum bertolonii, Smaller Cat's-tail 2 Hedgerow plants Ilex aquifolium, Holly Ligustrum ovalifolium, Korean privet Prunus spinosa, Blackthorn Rosa spinosissimi, Scotch rose Sambucus nigra, Elderberry Vibirnum lantana, Viburnum