Operation Bamboo Thinning: another successful gardening day at the Japanese Garden of Peace

As spring continues to breathe life into Hammersmith Park, our dedicated volunteers gathered once again at the Japanese Garden of Peace for a focused day of maintenance. In this session, we concentrated solely on managing our bamboo growth, a vital task to ensure the health and aesthetics of the garden. We have not touched the pond this time, as we evaluate the results of a new treatment intended to combat algae using environment-safe bacteria - if successful, this will very significantly reduce the amount of work we need to do routinely in the pond and allow us to focus on other tasks. Fingers crossed!

Bamboo Management Takes Center Stage

Our primary goal for the day was to thin out the bamboo, especially around critical areas of the garden that had seen significant overgrowth. We focused on three main areas:

• Frithville Entrance: Near the entrance from Frithville Gardens, we’ve made significant headway in clearing the bamboo wall. It’s not just about cutting back; it's about letting light seep through, brightening the area and making the garden more welcoming.
  

• Clearing the Secret Hideout: The southeast end of the garden hosts a little "bamboo secret hideout" that had become overly dense. Many of the entrances leading in and out were blocked, which also posed security and antisocial behaviour challenges. We've now reopened all of these, and while there’s more work to be done, the improvement is already noticeable.
  

• The Streams: At the back of the streams, we finished thinning the bamboo and removed several dead trees that had died out - we left them last time around after freeing them hoping they might have recovered, but at a closer inspection this time it became clear they were completely dead - just touching the branches made them fall off. Hopefully, we've not just cleaned up this area but also ensured that the remaining trees won't be suffocated anymore!
  

If you're walking through the Garden in the next few days, you might notice that we haven't just cut about a third of the canes: we've also carefully removed all the lower branches and leaves to reduce the overall volume and make the canes themselves stand out. It's quite a remarkable effect, especially with black canes and closely resembles the way bamboo is managed back in Japan.

While the result was great, it wasn't easy sailing. Cutting old, broken, and yellow bamboo stems proved challenging due to the sheer volume of overgrowth and wanting to preserve the good stems from getting damaged. The task was tough but our volunteers pushed through with determination, making substantial progress in critical garden areas and the before and after comparison at the top makes it more real.

Looking Ahead

We will continue our efforts in the upcoming sessions, especially focusing back on the "bamboo secret hideout" and the entrance areas. Each session brings us closer to restoring the Japanese Garden of Peace to its full beauty and functionality.

Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in this session. Your hard work is what keeps this garden a peaceful, beautiful spot for everyone in the community to enjoy. Stay tuned for more updates and join us next time to help make a difference in this cherished space!

A Spring Awakening: celebrating spring with the first gardening session at the Japanese Garden of Peace

Today our team of volunteers ushered in the first breath of spring with a day of maintenance and improvements at the Japanese Garden of Peace in Hammersmith Park. Amid the budding sakura trees - the cherry blossoms adding a sense of renewal and vibrancy - we focused on several key areas that needed our attention. Here’s a closer look at the work we accomplished, marking a promising start to the year. Reviving the Pond

Our first major task was tackling the pond’s blanket algae problem. The effort was substantial, but through teamwork, we cleared away a good chunk of the algae, setting the stage for the pond’s next phase of care. In collaboration with the Council, we plan to introduce a bacterial treatment soon, aiming to maintain the pond’s clarity and health, reducing future maintenance needs. This move is expected to allow us to dedicate more time to other garden areas. Before and after pictures are above - it might not look like there's a lot of difference, but here's a video of all the piles of algae we had pulled out by the end of the session...

Quite some, isn't it? We hope that these (safe for wildlife and plants) bacteria will now help clear up the rest. It will take some time for the effect to be seen, but we're really hopeful this will be a game-changer for us and the Garden!

Making our bamboo look even better

We also gave considerable attention to the garden's bamboo. By trimming back and removing unhealthy growth, we enhanced the appearance of the bamboo areas. We've also cut all the lower leaves to make the stems stand out even more, something that aligns us with traditional Japanese garden standards. This not only tidied up the garden but also opened up new sightlines, making the area feel more inviting and secure. Plenty more bamboo to thin out in the Garden, it's something that hasn't been done in quite some time, but seeing the difference it's made in this area gives us all the determination we need to do the same everywhere else!

Fighting the bamboo invasion

As you might know already, bamboo loves to grow a lot and it takes some serious work to keep it under control. When things do get a bit out of hand, then stems pop up everywhere and can get quite invasive. This was the case for a specific area by the waterfall where it had encroached upon the spaces meant for other plants. Our brave volunteers made their way through and, although we had to say goodbye to some smaller plants that had sadly died off, there's now ample room for the remaining ones to prosper. Our job here is not done yet and we'll continue the clean-up next month. We'll also consult with the Council regarding the care of some trees that got very leggy while struggling for light - probably too late to prune them back this year, but something to keep in mind for the future.

A Heartfelt Thanks to Our Volunteers

The progress made during this first session of the year wouldn’t have been possible without our dedicated volunteers. Their hard work has significantly improved the Japanese Garden of Peace, ensuring it remains a tranquil and beautiful space for all. The presence of Sakura trees, in full bloom, added an extra layer of beauty to our efforts, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and the promise of new beginnings.

Want to join us next month? We run gardening sessions every month from March to October. There's plenty to do and more hands are always welcome! You can have a look and sign up for our future session here!

The New Consultation for Hammersmith Park's Outdoor Gym

Area of grass where the proposed outdoor gym would be installed

In the heart of our community, Hammersmith Park stands as a testament to the green, vibrant life we all cherish. But it's not just the lush landscapes that make our park a jewel in the neighborhood; it's the potential it holds to bring us together, promoting health, wellness, and community spirit. This vision takes a new shape as the Council announces a fresh consultation for the proposed outdoor gym in Hammersmith Park. Your feedback is crucial, now more than ever.

The Vision Reimagined: After a previous small-scale survey didn't collect enough responses, the Council has taken a step back, reevaluated, and now returns with a renewed proposal for our beloved park. This isn't just about installing fitness equipment; it's about creating a space that encourages active living, accessible to everyone in our community.

What's New This Time?

• A Dedicated Website: The Council has launched a comprehensive website for this consultation. It's your go-to resource for all information related to the outdoor gym. From the precise location within the park to detailed renderings of what the space could look like, everything you need to know is there.

• A Closer Look: Through the website, you can view detailed renderings of the proposed gym. These visuals bring the project to life, offering a glimpse into the future of our park. It's an opportunity to visualize the impact of the gym on the park's landscape and our daily lives.

• Deep Dives into the Project: Beyond the visuals, the website provides in-depth information about the project's goals, the equipment planned, and how it aims to enhance Hammersmith Park's role in our community's health and wellness.
  

Your Voice Matters: This consultation is more than a formality; it's a genuine request for your input. Whether you've participated in the previous round or this is your first time hearing about the project, your feedback is invaluable. The Council is listening, and this is your chance to influence how we move forward.

How to Get Involved: Visit the consultation website to explore the plans in detail. See the location, view the renderings, and read about the project's ambitions. Then, share your thoughts. What do you like about the proposal? What concerns do you have? How can it be improved? This is your opportunity to shape the future of Hammersmith Park.

Hammersmith Park is more than just a patch of green in our urban landscape; it's a community hub, a place for relaxation, play, and now, potentially, a cornerstone of our community's fitness. This consultation represents a critical step towards realizing that potential.

By participating, you're not just voicing your opinion; you're actively shaping the future of our community. Let's come together to make Hammersmith Park a beacon of active living and wellness for all!