I RURAL LIFE


Chairman of the Friends of Storey Gardens," Annie Watson - xi.-


' ■ ■ has.been around for more than a century. f public consciousness.


, But its chequered past, during which it has changed'-^ • ownership numerous times, has seen it drift in and out of.: J


B Now, however, these lovely gardens are preparing i ■:


for a reawakening, thanks to the efforts of a group of - . : people who live, quite Ijterajly, just a stone's throw from/-; the site on Meeting House Lane.'


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I The Friends of the Storey Gardens was set up in Feb- // ! ruary last year after resident Annie Watsonbegan to do’p 1 some research to find out more about them. Annie, a relative newcomer, moved to Lancaster three


years ago and now owns a flat on Castle Park, which backs on to the gardens. The former human resources


-managertumed horticulturalist was curious to know more about them. "I was very excited because I didn't


, .have the benefitof owning a garden so I began asking »- people about these," she says. .


. . Her enquiries led her to the local Green councillor, Jon Barry, who supported Annie in setting up a public meeting to gauge interest in the gardens: more than , 100 people attended.


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an open day in the garden in May and actually raised £500


Jon then set us a challenge to raise £300 so we held . ; . , f


One.of their first tasks, however, was to clear the site. It was overgrown and full of general rubbish and the


results of vandalism, says Annie. "Even then, though, . you could always see that it was a lovely space "


• , Helped by volunteers, Annie and other group mem­ bers, cleared leaves, rebuilt the compost heap, re-


.glazed the old garden hut and planted bulbs. "Everyone mucks in, she says. And for me, coming into a new community, it's meant I've got to know lots of people " Friends' secretary Sue Widden admits she is not a gardener, but she, too, lives within sight of The Storey '


. Gardens arid was involved with them when they opened as an artwork in the late 90s until they closed aqain in 2006.; '


/ "I’d love to see the,entrance area enhanced with signs


and tubs of plants and improved access so people can also come in from Meeting House Lane,"


j - she says. "So many people walk past on their, ' • way to arid from the railway station."'


/ ■"Our mission is to provide a community.^ ,


I. space for everyone in Lancasterto use," says I ;, Anriie. WhetKer or not the group can open The ■/Storey Gardens.to.the public.full time; however, is


I - dependent on a council decision, which'is due to be * .'madein the coming months." -


- - Treasurer Michael Greenhalgh, a retired'account-


: ant who moved to Castle Park four years ago, is an- otheVlceen supporter. He is already looking ahead


|/ to November when,'with'the help of Heritage ' ' ! / Lott:ery rnoney, the gardens will host an eventas- - i''jaart of.Light Up Lancaster. ■;


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, 'vV*jt's.a very attractive amenity, in the middle'of the | h e


i • says of the garden. "Once all the repairs are


Incomplete and it's open again, I'd be surprised if it didn't ; attract a lofofinterest and generate enthusiasm to go - /forward."'.


.... In 1932 theft nily sold the gar- - ■ (now Storey Gallery) was then a dens to a Dr H


immediatelyso I the' w e s te rn se c ­ tion - nowknov n a s the Tasting. ■ Garden-toLar :a sh ireC o u n ty Council. 1 ■


- . . . . . . - • ' / umi tree, whichnw dominates the . . . . . He retained/ e other half with essential o vson, who took up . ■ technical college, and students - in- ■ .w e re^ d le n ^ ^ i^ '^ X it i- //' ?


residence in nui >ber20 and almost eluding Andy Goldsworthy - often, - x;; vAlthough ag'reemen^^sreabhed * “ *


created temporary works-of art in’"~!.j.,with . the gardens. /


known Mark Dion -that these >'.......


v . But in the late 1980s(the whole could be replaced with resin copies, r site moved into the hands of Lan- / - no further progress wasmade/arid ........, / t caster City Council and,'by the,early,.the gardens remairied closed.


its tennis court nd a copper beech Z„- 90s, the gardens had become over- / . .The paths.that formed part of'!. _ grown and fallen into disrepair. In' the artwork are now overgrowri?Sw


y.w > ■ from 1781 the t place, andjater rented back the; T x u.1998, however, there was renewed f-> and only the concrete plinths that gardens/jdivided western garden in order to grow-: -,v;7 activity when funding was secured^ iu supported the bronze,fruit remain/ ’ •, j into two by a stone the familyfsow1 vegetables during ., for a permanent artwork called the v^/albeit devoid of fruit;^ wall, were owned by the war.1 \ ".the Satterthwaite 'family.' They lived'


Tasting Garden in the western sec-’ / - ‘While the return of theartworkt'3^1


The easterns irden remained in tion and this was a popular attrac-:;-Lx sounds aoDealind. it would mean^ v J ^ the Howson far ily, being used


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EHIND an unas’suming grey wall in the^centre of Lancaster lies a little gem, a blast of green/an ^ oasis for nature in the midst of a busy c i t y . ' t^ ^ -.' This haven is called The Storey Gardens andit/ . '


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