After a weekend spent removing the concrete which the previous guys had left on the site, we started bright and early on Monday morning. First Jutta and Jennie raked the site flat, then Jutta and Veronica marked out the measurements.  

The passersby made comments:

9.30: “Hooray, the plastic’s gone.”

9.40: “This is fantastic to see. Though the plastic was better than the weeds before.”

9.45: “Could I have the piece of plastic that was there please.”

9.48: “Are you doing a real one. Oh hooray.”

9.55: “We really appreciate your efforts, thank you.”

One passerby went back to make us hot chocolate (it was bitterly cold and windy!):

Later another passerby apologized for not digging, but went back to get us tea and buns. Meanwhile, Jutta measured out the swirls in sand.

A huge truck arrived carrying the plants.

Then the back-breaking work of planting over 800 pots began. Heroic stuff from all hunchbacks who participated.

Conclusion:

Top points for Friends of Turnham Green (and Abundance!!) who did the work. Special commendation for Cllr Todd, who not only represents us, but also gets his hands dirty (see him above in the cowboy hat).

Top points for Fusion Lifestyle who run the Town Hall and funded the plants (though a little thank you for our hard labour might not go amiss??).

Nul points for the guys who left the site in a big mess

The plants have yet to fill out and of course start flowering, but we hope it will look great once it gets going. Please – all passersby – look after the site, litter pick if necessary and don’t trample on it.

These are the plants we used:

Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’

Hebe topiaria

Heucherella alba ‘Autumn Bride’

Ilex crenata ‘Convexa’

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’

Liriope muscari ‘John Burch’

Santolina virens ‘Lemon Fizz’

Satureja Montana