Bringing garden back to former glory

THE popular John Dawber Garden in uphill Lincoln is being rescued for future generations in a remarkable transformation thanks to hard-working volunteers and generous supporters. Restoration milestones so far include completely renewing the pond with a new liner and stone edging, creating a dedicated garden for children at Westgate Academy, digging over and replanting overgrown flower beds, removing ivy threatening to cause the collapse of pergolas and installing new edging along flower beds.

New paving has been donated and installed by Lincs Civil Engineering & Paving and the company will be back on site in the coming months to replace old and broken down paths. Further paving and pond surround costs have been met by Investors in Lincoln.

The seating within the Garden has all been restored courtesy of the Lindum Group Joiners Shop, with new benches also being added.

During the cooler, wetter autumn months, volunteers are planning to re-plant areas of the overgrown Chinese Garden, accessed by two circular moon gates, which have also recently been re-painted by the Mayor of Lincoln, Biff Bean, his Sheriff, Neil Murray, along with other councillors.

Local artists have contributed stunning works of art. Rachael Audrey Clark created a three-panel wall mosaic entitled ‘Strelitzia’ in memory of her late mother. Strelitiza, known as the bird of paradise plant, was first named by the Lincolnshire botanist Sir

Joseph Banks and presented to Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. Elaine Marsden’s sculpture depicts a woman reclining and reading a bookwhich contains the names of the garden volunteers. Elaine has previously exhibited at the Turrell Gardens, Cambridge.

Lynn Ritson, Chair of the Dawber Garden Community Trust, thanked all the volunteers and supporters for helping the trust achieve so much in such a very short space of time, but said new volunteers and donations of plants, labour and funding are always welcome.

“It is unbelievable that our proposal to the City of Lincoln Council to take over the management and restoration of the Dawber Garden was only approved in the middle of December last year - with charitable status granted in the middle of January - that so much has been achieved within such a short space of time.

“We could not have achieved any of this without the help of our volunteers, who turn out consistently each Tuesday and Thursday morning, regardless of the weather conditions.’

The walled garden to the north of the Lawn complex, is open daily.Visitors, who enjoy the tranquil surroundings and birdsong, often talk to volunteers and appreciate the garden is being returned to its former glory.

Kay Veitch is a frequent visitor: “I’m so happy to see the transformation taking place in the garden and every time I visit there is always some improvement or new planting to see. I often stop and chat to the volunteers who are so enthusiastic and willing.”

Visit the www.dawbergarden.co.uk, the Facebook page or follow the Dawber Garden Community Trust on Instagram.