A new Swedish treasure – parents and children, please respect it!
One of my childhood haunts, Saltwell Park in Gateshead, has a new attraction – the Buzzing Garden, which was opened to the public on August 18.
I must get rid of a bee in my bonnet (excuse the pun, but it’s no laughing matter). I visited during the school holidays, and the garden is between the pets’ corner and Saltwell Towers. Unfortunately, it was overrun with uncontrolled and badly behaved kids.
Parents did little or nothing to control their offspring. Throwing or kicking gravel everywhere and into the pond, which already had several plastic bottles floating on the surface.
Badly behaved kids – and parents
Kids (and some feckless adults) ignored the paths, cutting over the soil and new plants. My heart sank at the amount of work that’s been put in and the thoughtlessness and stupidity I had witnessed. I felt ashamed that this was happening in my home town.
Then I got angry… really angry. One particularly feckless pre-pubescent got on the wrong side of me by trampling over compost and several Pulmonaria. She seemed stunned that I had challenged her ‘right’ to wreck something she had no comprehension was a positive thing. Luckily, my family dragged me away before I became another statistic of crime.
Like all new gardens, it needs to mature. Proper gardens aren’t like the Chelsea show variety. Plants need space to breathe, grow and establish themselves. Please, folks, have some respect. There’s a lot of time and effort by a lot of good people been invested here. We’re really lucky to have this garden to encourage pollinators and strengthen our ties with Sweden.
International gardening project
The project is a collaboration between the National Garden Scheme (NGS) North East, Region Västra Götaland (West Sweden) and Gateshead Council. Born from the North East’s cultural and business links with Sweden, the project has involved volunteers from eight countries, park users and Friends of Saltwell Park. The cost has been covered by businesses.
The garden echoes Western Swedish landscapes, with dark forests, bright glades, meadows, heathlands, rocky coastlines and old cottage gardens. There’s a strong emphasis on hard landscaping. It’s divided into three areas – meadow, woodland and coastline/cottage garden. A central pond, sturdy pergolas and gravel paths provide the backdrop.
A mix of edibles and ornamental plants makes up the cottage garden. My favourite bit has to be the woodland – I’m a sucker for pines. It’s a wonderful bird habitat – see my post on the RSPB’s guide to fledglings. The garden was designed by Johnny Mattsson, Gunnebo House, Maria Westeborn, Eriksgård in Tvååker and Peter Svenson, Jonsered Gardens.
Buzzing Garden – an English garden in Sweden
This garden is a part of an international garden exchange. A Classic English Garden, designed by NGS Northumberland’s Susie White, is established in Jonsered Garden outside Gothenburg.
Local businesswoman Helen Cadzow, of Cadzow Estates, has played a big part. She said: “Coming from Gateshead, it’s been a pleasure to work on such an unusual project. I believe in investing with local people in mind, and the Buzzing Garden will have lasting benefits to the community.”
Maureen Kesteven, NGS County Organiser, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear and regional chairman, North of England, said: “It has been great to have so much support and so much interest from businesses and local people.
“It’s a real demonstration of how gardening brings people together. At the end of it, there’ll be something that the whole community can continue to enjoy as well as an attraction for visitors.”
How the garden looked in July
My daughter Vanessa popped down to the park a month before the Buzzing Garden opened to the public in July. It’s an interesting insight into how a garden is created. Picture; Vanessa Sundin
Buzzing Garden sponsors
Tarmac: Stone and other materials, construction plant hire, volunteers, skilled craftspeople
Buildbase: Timber products
SealEco: Pond liner
Hirebase: Large plant hire
Speedy Services: Security fencing
Gardena: Irrigation system
Wates: Access to skilled craftspeople
Gateshead Council
National Garden Scheme
Cadzow Estates
Caroline Theobald CBE Hon Consul for Sweden: Co-ordination, project management, fundraising
Pictorial Meadows, Johnsons of Whixley, Trädgårdsresan, A Little Plant Company: Plant and seed suppliers and growers
Swedish Orient Line: Shipping of Swedish heritage plants
Falurodfarg: Paint
Region Västra Götaland, Helen McArdle CBE, Husqvarna, Brewin Dolphin, Hadrian Healthcare: cash donations.
