I arrived one Wednesday morning at Victoria Park, Stretford, a park two streets away from my house, to do my normal Wednesday morning's volunteer gardening and was told by Sarah, one of the gardening managers, that we had a flag hoisting ceremony and were having our picture taken. Now, I am not a celebrity, so no paparazzi habitually follow me, so I asked why. Sarah, who like all the park staff is a lovely person, informed me that the park had been awarded a coveted green flag, which is awarded only to parks and community green spaces of the highest standard. Don't congratulate me, I had only been a volunteer for a few weeks, the hard work had been done by others, but I lined up with the rest and had a photo in which I was partially obscured on the second row. But though I had no grounds for pride I was delighted for my colleagues and was happy to have linked up with an organisation that was friendly, socially useful and thoroughly competent. I had joined a group who enabled me to perform an enjoyable activity in which I can use my gardening skills and knowledge in the company of good people. Moreover, they recognize and cater for my disability, Parkinson's Disease, and make me feel welcome.
A few months ago I was snatching some exercise in the park, doing half a mile, all that I could manage as I waited for an appointment with a neurologist, who would be able to prescribe suitable medication. I was at a loose end, having been forced by my health to give up my allotment. But blessings come unexpectedly, this time in the shape of Christine, Chris for short, a close friend of my wife. She is a trustee of Friends of Victoria Park, and knew my situation. Why not join the Gardening for Health group that meets on Wednesday mornings, she suggested. I tentatively agreed, but as it was already Thursday I had six days to wait.
The following Wednesday I turned up at the park. "Meet at the bowling green near the small cafe. You will be able to see the greenhouses." I followed the instruction and soon met Nancy, Sarah and Caroline, who take responsibility for the gardening projects. I explained the situation and they were friendly and supportive. We got to work immediately trimming rose bushes and getting rid of one pest plant, self-seeded sycamore. I was having a good day, I was back gardening and had found new friends.
The managers adjust my jobs to my limitations. They bring me a chair so that I can sit while pruning bushes and take a break when tired. I have not been expected to perform heavy tasks such as digging, but I perform tasks that involve skill, such as "potting on" lilac plants, which I did this week; and my knowledge of plants is greatly valued. That I am physically limited saddens me, as I have always done my share of heavy work, but we all have to adjust to circumstances.
Comments
I have not seen visitors using the ladders, so probably not.
Your comment 5 boxes down describes roof-garden plants as not visible from ground vantage points.
Do visitors get to climb up the ladder and marvel at roof gardening or might there be liability issues?
That generally would be a concern in similar, Unitedstatesian park arrangements.
I think that they have the equipment to spray it.
The roof garden perhaps depends upon some kind of watering system.
Do the park staff have a utility chest or closet up there for keeping hoses and tools?
They perhaps have drawings and maps and photographs that let you in on what is ailing and what is thriving, correct?
Too costly. I accept the limitations imposed by nature and age.. The park have been very good to me. They are realistic about my difficulties, and Maureen would go mad if she heard that I had climbed a ladder. Not worth causing trouble.
That's so sad and tragic for the roof-garden plants that lack your sage presence.
Might it be too costly for them to put in one of those bucket-lift conveyors that non-climber arborists need to perform work in tree-branch and tree-trunk areas signaled as dangerous or pruning-needy by -- ;-{ -- arboreal drones?
The roof plants cannot be seen from the ground. But my medical difficulties mean that I am forbidden by the management from climbing ladders.
The first paragraph to the third subheading, Projects, considers a roof garden especially of "low-growing plants like sedums."
Is it possible for someone on the ground to see all, none or some plants on the roof?
Might these roof plants be in containers or in raised beds?
Currently the greenb flag is the one honour , but there are other completions that areas can enter and they get awards.
Thank you!
Is the green flag the only honor that is issued?
Or might the Royal Horticultural Society operate Olympics-style and realize the equivalent not only of gold medals but also the equivalents of silver and bronze ;-D?