Chelsea Fringe launches in SE26
The ChelseaFringe – a new garden fringe festival – launches in 2012 to run alongside the established RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
It is the brainchild of Tim Richardson, gardening writer for The Daily Telegraph and author of Futurescapes.
Iris Borgers, who runs the ‘Grow Mayow‘ community garden in Mayow Park,
and Tim Lund are setting up a localgarden trail to tie in with the festival. The trail will be similar to the Sydenham Arts Festival Visual Arts Trail which has formed part of the
Sydenham Arts Festival since 2009.
The project will be launched on January 26th at the Here For Good Centre, 17 Sydenham Road
starting at 6.30. Annie Gatti, gardening correspondent for The Times,will speak at the meeting.
The aim of the meeting is to launch a not-for-profit company and it is hoped that some of those attending will become Members of the company (limited by guarantee). The meeting will
formally adopt some aims for the company and agree a motion to donate any
surplus profits to charity, in addition to any charity fundraising from the open gardens.
If you want to help with the trail, would like to open your garden or would like to host a workshop
during the festival, Tim and Iris would love to hear from you. They’re not necessarily looking for ‘show’ gardens – the main criteria are that the gardens should be interesting and show something of the
character of the owner. Local parks or nature reserves will also be included in
the trail – basically anywhere where people care about plants and take comfort from them.
The event will also be about helping independent professional gardeners find work, by stimulating an interest in gardening and helping put them in touch with potential clients. It may even
encourage people to think about becoming professional gardeners and gain RHS
qualifications. A website http://sydenhamcommunitygardens.org.uk/ has been set up with a “Find a Gardener” section.
For more information about the trail you can contact Tim and Iris via the website or you can email Tim
Lund at: tim@lund.co.uk or call him on 020 8659 6137 / 07717-207009.