FRIENDS OF CHRISTCHURCH TOWER MEMORIAL GARDEN

Donations have already been received from the Ex-Services Liaison Group, the Royal Naval Association, East Kent Police (Folkestone) and Royal Air Force Association, to purchase trees. Other offers have been made from local residents for benches and individual plants. The Folkestone & Hythe Sea Cadet Unit have pledged their support and already raised £180 through its highly popular and successful band fund-raising activities. The New Folkestone Society previously donated and planted some trees and plaques and local firm Walker Construction has offered their full support in assisting with the work and labour force needed. The Friends of the Memorial Garden are extremely grateful for this splendid start.

The plan: There will be a greater area of paving surrounded by lawns and circular belts of ornamental planting. Existing access routes will be widened and resurfaced. New benches will be provided as places of rest. Sculptural features will add interest and the whole space will become a place of reflection and remembrance.

Scented shrubs and trees with spring and autumn colour will be planted and 12 foot high Prunus Cherry trees, will form an arc. Rosemary shrubs (helicrisum) will also be planted with a red ring of bedding plants (red pelagoniums/geraniums etc.) with poppies in the gravel areas.

Other specimen shrubs and benches will be purchased or donated by local companies and we will have skilled labour sponsorship for the paths and other works – companies have already been contacted and have agreed to assist.

Schools have been contacted and will be involved, as this will be a garden for the future. Some help will come from the Probation Service and/or Millennium Volunteers. By involving these groups of young people there would be a natural link to the future.

There will be lighting, interpretation boards and plaques for the sponsors and supporters. The condition of the Tower is presently being assessed and although this is not in the immediate plans, the security and possibility of opening up the tower will be looked at. The clock works intermittently and may not cost a great deal to make it fully operational if funds allow. Click here to see a plan of the proposals.

The Rotary Club of Folkestone, the Folkestone Town Police Constable, John Weller, and the Folkestone Town Centre are fully supporting the event. Rotary celebrates its Centenary year and will provide assistance at the event, which also involves the youth of the District through the Millennium Volunteers.

Folkestone town has a strong history with wars featuring on most occasions and the Gardens are known as the Remembrance Gardens, which for many years has been used for the annual Service of Remembrance, which will continue. However, the Gardens are not especially dedicated to remembrance for the rest of the year. No one really knows what its purpose is and in the immediate past it has been used by drunks and other anti-social behaviour. It is presently a pleasant, if unremarkable, spot in the heart of Folkestone.

Following a number of meetings of the Friends of Christchurch Gardens, the gardens are being redesigned to establish a permanent Peace and Remembrance Garden in Folkestone. The Friends of Christchurch Gardens consists of Veteran’s Associations, the Kent Police, Rotary, the Royal British Legion, schools and Shepway Council, with the support of the local papers.

It will be a place for remembrance for all service men and women who have died during the wars and conflicts that have occurred since WW1. It will retain its function as an area of open space for rest and relaxation throughout the year, surrounded by history.

A target date for the opening of the new Garden has been set for June 12th 2005 but please note that on Monday 22nd November at 10am the official tree-planting ceremony will take place at the Garden with the High Sheriff of Kent, James Loudon, and other dignitaries, including the Mayor of Folkestone and Veterans present. All arewelcome to join us on this occasion.

This project is effective and relevant, and responds to a real, current community concern, not an imagined one. It is based on a realistic assessment of resources available, incorporates the abilities of those who are served and builds working networks. It will recognise all participants’ contributions as important and necessary, and aims for specific goals and objectives with measurable results.

We look forward to your help and your support.

John D. Barber – August 2004