Page 28 - link magazine

From the office Lydiard volunteer who raided the
into the garden

GREEN fingered Swindon resident walled garden now looks after it
Paul Crocker has swapped the
corporate life for the great
outdoors with the launch of his
new enterprise - Ed’s Garden
Maintenance.
Paul decided to bring the
successful franchise to the town
following redundancy last year
after 30 years
at Zurich.
Outdoor
work and Paul
go back a long
way. Photos
can be found
of him aged 2 Jane Lane with newly planted apple trees in the Lydiard walled garden
pushing a lawnmower and helping
in the garden. LOOKING after the walled garden Park on my bike with my friends;
Ed’s Garden Maintenance at Lydiard Park is an all year the roads and pedestrian routes in
launched in 2003 and there are round activity and the staff at the the mid-50s were very quiet and
now 34 franchises in the UK. Paul’s Swindon Council run park rely on a children were allowed to roam far
is the first in the South West. team of volunteers. and wide.
He is currently looking for new However people come and go “The park was also quiet for a
clients in and around Swindon in response to other demands so lot of the time; the walled garden
from homeowners, to care homes, there’s always a need to recruit was usually locked up but we could
nursing homes, estate agents and more to help out to ensure the climb over the wall for some apple
management agents. garden looks its best at all times. noggin.
He offers lawn mowing, turfing, Jane Lane, 70, from Freshbrook, “The Beauty of Bath variety had
hedge cutting, pruning, garden has been helping out off and on a lovely taste. But the gamekeeper
clearance and pressure washing. To for the last 15 years and has happy got annoyed if he saw us and we
find out more see the ad top left. memories of visiting the park in her were chased away quite a few
teens when West Swindon was just times.
farm land and families had been “Now I absolutely love coming to
rehoused in the old prisoner of war Lydiard to help out; it’s fascinating
hospital huts where the sports fields how it’s changed over all these
are now. years and how heavily used it has
Jane said: “I grew up in a house become.”
on Wootton Bassett Road and There’s always something to do in
can’t remember how long I’ve the garden and grounds. To find out
been visiting Lydiard Park, but my more about joining the Lydiard Park
parents must have brought me from volunteer team contact Caroline
a young age. As soon as I was old Palmer on 01793 465271 or email:
enough I would ride out to Lydiard [email protected]
Gardening in miniature at bonsai show
IT’S the time of the year when “Without leaves it shows the very
little is growing outdoors,but it’s fine growth that goes into these
a perfect opportunity to see work small, and some not so small trees.
by members of Swindon Bonsai This means they have to be of a
Club at their annual ‘Winter Image’ very high quality and some of the
Fencing, Landscaping & show on Sunday 22 trees on display
are regular visitors
Paving Specialists February, 10.30am to the Chelsea
to 4pm.
Tur ng - Seeding - Planting It’s the first big Flower show.”
Timber Fencing - Steel Fencing - Gates show in the British There will be ex-
Decking - Paving - Driveways bonsai calendar pert advice from club
SWINDON and attracts members on how
833464 /433050 followers from far trees are trained into
www.neilsongardensupplies.co.uk and wide. such ornate shapes
e: [email protected] Paul Bowerbank, and bonsai traders
chairman of will be on hand with
Swindon & District materials to start
Bonsai Society, said: “Our show beginners off.
puts Swindon on the map in bonsai The event takes place at Stratton
circles as Winter Image is how St Margaret Community Centre,
trees are presented at big displays Grange Drive, Stratton, SN3 4JY
in Japan. swindon-bonsai.co.uk
28 swindonlink.com n February 2015