Notes from the Wilmington Square gardening meeting 23rd Sept '09

Present:
A M
B H
MH C
L E
O E
C I

Dogs
The park is meant to exclude dogs. Chris noted that the signs are not visible enough to enforce this and will get new signs (welded if necessary) near both the gate and the unofficial entrance on the west side.

Park Tracker Scheme
The system has changed for monitoring the maintenance for the Square. This will mean less frequent checks. We can volunteer to monitor the Square and give feedback to the subcontractors. Chris will get the paperwork so that we can sign up. We have agreed to check the Square once a month on a rotation.

Trees
The dead cherry tree has been chopped down. The remaining stump can be used as a bug house and needs to have holes drilled in it. The remaining trunk has been placed in the NW corner to designate a space for composting (see below).
There is a further cherry tree which is struggling.
Chris said that the Council will not cut down healthy trees so it is a waste of time to ask for the conifers to be felled.

Woodland planting
The gardening group is going to take on the oval flower bed in the South Western part of the Square. There is some money for Winter gardening available in Islington. Chris will find out the deadline for applications and encouraged us to get going asap. We need to make a planting plan based on woodland plants: identifying suitable plants and costs. We intend to find 5 plants each which could be suitable ie. the plants like/tolerate: poor soil, shade, are hardy and email suggestions to everyone. A will measure the flower bed so we can calculate quantities. We also discussed planting lavender around the roses. Chris agreed that this was a good idea but costly. He suggested that we start by planting lavender in the 5 small rose beds near the central hut. This will be included in the planting plan application. We need to put up a sign to let people know what we are trying to do with this patch.

Compost
Compost is available from the composting programme for North London. If we order in bulk then it may be delivered on a week day and will need to be moved inside the Square immediately. We agreed it could be easier to dump the compost into the little glade in the North West corner through the unofficial entrance.

Mulching
Chris suggested that it was difficult to give complicated instructions to the gangs of subcontractor gardeners when they are contrary to overall policy. There is a new company and they may leave some leaves behind around the perimeter. We could also collect some leaves and mix them in with the compost in the NW corner.