Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) were pleased to welcome back Alan Griffiths for what has become an annual walk around the park sharing his in-depth knowledge of the horticultural history of Preston Park, captured over 40 years in his capacity as Operations Manager (his final role for CityParks).
The gathered group was treated at the outset to a wonderful view of the Rose Garden, still with many blooms, under a low Autumn sun and with a beautifully clear full rainbow to the east. Alan explained the transition of the rose garden planting from the original floribundas and traditional tea roses to the scented shrub roses in proliferation today. The huge contribution from David Austin roses throughout the years and continuing today was much appreciated by the group.
We walked around the formal garden admiring the current blooms and discussing the herbaceous beds along the borders. During Alan’s early years at CityParks there was an entire team of gardeners for the Rose Garden and a dedicated head gardener keeping the borders weed-free and the significant yew hedges perfectly trimmed. Our FOPP team talked the group through our upcoming plans to clear the borders and replace weeds with plants from our new propagating bench.
As the walk continued towards the tennis courts Alan told us about the grandeur of the bowling matches in Preston Park and reminisced about arriving very early in the morning to mow the greens in preparation. He indicated the layout of the five bowling greens and the separate changing pavilions for gentlemen and lady players! These are currently used by the FitnessHub gym and Woopsadaisy.
The group was very interested to hear about the use of the Winterbourne underground stream to water the park over the years, particularly in feeding the Rotunda pond. Alan pointed out the positions of the spring and the pumping gear.
Alan described the range of trees planted along the western edge of the park, selected and grown in the Stanmer nurseries and watered in from a truck carrying the stream water. We admired the newly planted UTFC trees, particularly the hawthorn currently laden with berries, which complement the existing varieties and are replacing some trees lost to elm disease and ash dieback. These trees are watered more efficiently these days with the aid of plastic water bags attached to their lower trunks.
The walk finished, as the sun set behind The Rockery with Alan reminding us how the remaining twin elm has observed centuries of development and change in the park, including the transition of its twin into its present gold and black statuesque form.
