The official opening ceremony of the Whickham Library Garden took place on Saturday 12th July 2008

The Deputy Mayor of Gateshead Council Joe Mitchinson arrived at 10.45 and was officially welcomed by Margaret Minns, Chair of Friends of Whickham Library Garden.

At 11.OOam Mrs Minns called the guests to order and Ann Borthwick the Head of Library Arts and Studies gave a speech. Mrs Minns replied to Ann Borthwicks speech.

Prior to declaring the garden open the Deputy Mayor gave a short speech and invited Miss Harriet Lily Morrison (pictured on the right) a pupil of Clover Hill Primary School and the winner of the Schools Garden Design Competition, to join him in cutting the door ribbon pictured above. Harriet's plan was incorporated into the final design by Kathryn Upton local Garden Designer and Senior Library Assistant

The Deputy Mayor then lead the guests out into the garden where he planted a commemorative tree and toured the garden.

Pictured above on the left: Ann Borthwick Head of Library and Arts, Kathryn Upton Dip. GD & Dip H (Inst. G) Librarian and Garden Designer and Chris Myhills Area Library Manager.

Pictured above on the right: Janet Morrison with her 12 year old daughter Harriet Lily Morrison, the winner of the Schools Garden Design Competion.

A Guided Tour of Whickham Library Garden By Kathryn Upton

When I originally designed Whickham Library Garden I wanted the garden to appeal to all ages of the community, and although there has been a few amendments to the original design, I hope I have achieved this.

The garden has been designed in a cottage style to compliment the library building and the surrounding area. It includes a literacy area for schools and reading groups, a herb garden and a wildlife area. As the garden is quite narrow and rectangular, I have tried to disguise this by incorporating a pathway framed by pergolas to help the path ""disappear from view". I have also incorporated winding stepping stones that lead you further on into the garden

The garden is also a sensory garden, so there is a lot to see, smell, touch, hear and (under supervision!) taste. Japanese anemones swaying in the wind, the fragrant smell of chocolate cosmos, the touch of the furry foliage of staychs, the crunching of gravel underfoot, the singing of the birds, and the chives with their delicate onion taste are just a few.

You access the library garden through the automatic doors from the library, which lead you out onto a ramp and some steps (pictured above on the left). This makes the garden easily accessible for everyone. As you enter the garden there are three wooden benches that have been positioned so that they will be in sun for most of the day. Eucryphia (a slender evergreen tree with a mass of pure white flowers in late summer) has been planted in a hexagonal wooden planter, to add colour and height to this area. Planters brimming with a mixture of perennials and annuals are positioned on the railings, and hanging baskets add height and colour and lead the eye away from the hard landscaping. To the right of the benches is the herb garden. This is where you can sit and read or just relax surrounded by the fragrant scents of lavender and lemon.

A path with rustic brick edging leads you further on into the garden where a wooden pergola frames the view (pictured above on the right) and invites you to travel on through the garden. Fragrant Honeysuckle and Solanum are planted by the pergola and will eventually become a mass of colourful flowers.

The path brings you to a large hexagonal paved area that is the literacy area. A beautiful wooden seat carved out of a tree trunk creates a stunning feature in this area, and a small stone bench and toadstool seats provide a unique seating area.

Adjacent to the literacy area is the herb garden. This is planted with traditional herbs such as chamomile, sage and thyme. Studying the history of herbs is now part of the national curriculum in primary schools, so this area will play an important role in the garden.

Surrounding the literacy area are five planters brimming with shade loving plants that have different textures, foliage and requirements to sun loving plants. The planters add interest and colour to this area. Several toadstool seats provide a shaded seating area for young children, whilst the golden gravel chippings lighten up the area. Schools can also use this area to display their project work.

The path continues on through a second pergola smothered with climbing clematis that leads you on to the wildlife area. Every plant in this area has been chosen for our native wildlife - Sedum and Aquilegia for bees, Buddleia and Lavender for butterflies, and Holly and the existing Rowan trees for birds. Homes and feeders for the wildlife have been hidden amongst the foliage and the tree branches, to tempt them to make a home here.

A birdbath positioned in a hexagonal brick feature is surrounded by lavender. Two box balls frame the log effect stepping stones that lead you through this area to an arbour in the corner of the garden. A fragrant climbing rose and other climbers will soon soften the edges of the arbour and make this a secluded seating area that catches the last rays of the summer sun. Toadstool seats and wooden animals have been placed amongst the planting to create a lovely area for children to explore and for adults to enjoy.

As this is National Year of Reading the garden would not be complete without a few literature references. Here are a few plants to look out for in the garden

Holly Holly: `its garden, dark with yew and holly where no flowers but of the hardiest species would bloom' - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Aquilegia: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Rosemary: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." - Shakespeare's Hamlet to Ophelia Poppy: `In Flanders fields the poppies blow' by John McCrae

The Future

Due to new legislation the ramp is larger than originally planned. Harriet's design included a ladybird mosaic that was going to be in the centre of the reading area. The mosaic will now be positioned on the library-building wall in the literacy area and will be a stunning addition to the garden! In recent years concern has been voiced about poisonous plants. Always assume that no part of a plant should be eaten, unless it is known, without any doubt whatsoever, that the plant is edible and cannot provoke an allergic reaction.

Kathryn Upton Dip. GD & Dip. H (Inst. G) Garden Designer 2008

My thanks to Kathryn Upton and her husband Stephen, for suppling photographs to add to this website entry

Contrary to weather forecasts we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day. The Library Staff worked incredibly hard (as usual), Maria Buckley on the left and Joanne Anderson served drinks to the guests with patience and good humour, although they were unable to fulfill frequent requests by one guest (who shall remain nameless) to supply a pint of LCL.

Our Society wishes to compliment and thank all involved, especially Kathryn Upton (pictured above) for creating a beautiful garden which will be will be enjoyed by the community and future generations.

THE GARDEN WILL HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR WHICH OF COURSE IS A COST FEATURE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP OR DONATE TO THE GARDEN PROJECT PLEASE CONTACT FRIENDS OF WHICKHAM LIBRARY VIA 0191 4336424.

OR ALTERNATIVELY, PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO: FRIENDS OF WHICKHAM LIBRARY and send to: WHICKHAM LIBRARY, ST MARY'S GREEN, WHICKHAM, NEWCASTLE upon TYNE, NE16 4DN.

ALL DONATIONS WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.

On the 12th July 2009 Whickham Library Garden celebrated its first birthday by holding a 'Bloomin Tea Party' and also helped raise funds for Marie Curie. The sun shone and it was lovely to see so many people of all ages enjoying the garden.

The children took great delight in helping out, the watering can was a top attraction enjoyed by all, splashing water about and not getting into trouble.

The cutting of the Birthday Cake, the children singing 'Happy Birthday' and enjoying a sample afterwards.

The Garden as it is today, beautifully tended and a credit to Whickham Library.