February 14 Storms Damage Wind Break

Storms on the 7th and 14th of February caused significant damage to the wind break on the west side of the Garden. Many of the Macrocarpa trees that formed the multilayer wind break were uprooted and a major clearance operation is now under way before the areas can be replanted. The effects of the loss of the windbreak can be seen right through the garden with many plant showing signs of salt burn on their west face.

The Mediterranean Piazza

What a difference a season makes!

After the controversy earlier this year when the area around the pond was remodelled the summer has transformed the area into a true piazza. The under-planting of echiums are filling the area below the figs and vines which have themselves burst into life with an abundance of foliage. The area has proved so popular with visitors throughout the summer that more tables have had to be provided but these can now be spread out over the large hard standing providing individual space for eating, drinking and relaxing in the sun.

The Extension of the Mediterranean Garden

When the design for the refurbishment of the Garden Café was finalise it was to be to be as a restaurant with a Mediterranean theme. From this grew the idea that it would be good to continue this theme outside and create a Mediterranean courtyard where visitors could relax, enjoy a glass of wine and a meal.

The CIC approached the Friends with a request for them to make a contribution to the cost of landscaping of the area. At the Executive Committee meeting on 20 February 2013 it was agreed that a grant of £10,000 would be made to the CIC as the Society’s contribution to the scheme. The total budget cost of the proposals was £15,000. The proposal was to remove all of the grass and concrete paths from the area and replace them with a crushed Cotswold stone surface similar to the area outside the main entrance.

The Mediterranean garden, which is immediately to the west of the area could then be extended with additional planting of Cork Oaks, Vines, and other Mediterranean plants including a number Orange Trees, propagated in the garden, that have already been hardened off outside over the past few years.

Work commenced on 6 March clearing the existing grass and paving and was little hampered by the very wet end to the week or by the snow that followed. The snow did stop the delivery of materials but work continued with what was to hand. By the end of the second week all of the new surface has been laid and many of the new trees and shrubs were in place. At this time it was obvious to anyone with the most basic knowledge of gardening that there was still a lot to be done but the work was suspended and the area left tidy and usable for the Easter period.

What great publicity for the Ventnor Botanic Garden when Naomi Wilkinson and the BBC cameras visited for the programme shown on 16 October.