Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
From Kent on line
A community garden near Dover's Market Square could brighten up the town centre and bring people together.
That's the aim of Susan Proudfoot, who is launching the initiative, and has enlisted the support of the town council and Dover Arts Development.
"I have a dream to bring together our community, and transform our wonderful town," said Ms Proudfoot, who has lived in Dover for 20 years, studies at Hadlow College and is a volunteer with the National Trust.
"Dover needs something like this," she said. "I went to see the town council and I couldn't have asked for a better reception. Within minutes I was talking to town clerk Allison Burton, and shortly after that we were walking down to identify the land that might be used."
The Roman lawn, between Dover Discovery Centre and the Roman Painted House, has been suggested as the site and it is hoped that it can be developed without damaging the archaeology beneath, including Roman baths.
The garden could be used for all sorts of plants and herbs, linking Roman times with the present day, with a sensory garden, raised beds for disabled people to tend, and even a modern-day vertical growing system.It may also have a Dover history trail.
"I want to involve everyone, from pre-school nursery groups to Age Concern," said Ms Proudfoot.
She has organised a launch meeting at Dover Town Council offices on Tuesday at 4pm to which everyone is invited.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
I must admit I first heard of this excellent project via The Cause is Altered webpage on Facebook
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
Excellent idea.....................................
.........................but so was Charlton Green.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I was going to say that Terry.
A lovely idea and good luck to it being brought to fruition; but and it's a big but, Dover needs much more than a small sensory garden to restore pride, make it a cleaner, brighter, more welcoming Town and turn it into a destination for visitors.
Real work on the Town and its environs is what is needed - a team of volunteers won't begin to scratch the surface, or get the confidence of the Town's businesses.
Fiddling around at the edges is really a waste of time and money if it detracts from initiatives that will help to make a real difference for Dover.
But what do I know ?
Roger
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
a meeting is being held at the dtc offices at 4 pm tuesday 30th august.all about the commuaty garden that is.
"Fiddling around the edges" is more than is currently being done to uplift Dover, and it has heart and soul attached. There is more to Dover than the much needed business uplift - anything at all that contributes to pride and local ownership of the environment has to be good. And it deserves the full and kind hearted support of anyone who gives a damn about Dover. I am hoping that includes everyone reading this.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i have been following the plans and have to say the idea is a good one, also the location.
as terry said the charlton green effort was a good one, so it is not just up to the volunteers to make this work but the authorities too.
inevitably anything pleasant will attract ne'er do wells as we have seen, it needs guarantees that regular police or warden patrols are in place with powers of arrest or instant fines.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
or better still a non alcolalic zone as set up in the town center areas,but must be enforced strongly to get the message across.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
The land that this proposed garden is owned by, is Dover District Council and is used by the Museum quite often, especially on their open days.
I think that from an idea - a good idea for such a garden, it should have been thought through, land-ownership determined and discussions made BEFORE it was publicised.
When I made my initial posting about it, I hadn't determined who owned the land, but the TC should have and made a number of inquiries about ownership, possibilities of bringing it to fruition, design plan, on-going maintenance (not just leaving it to "jo-soap" to do) etc.
Maybe a corner of Pencester could/might be used for such a purpose ? but again, that's DDC land.
What pieces of land, in and around the Town are owned by DTC, so they can say yes, without land-ownership being a concern.
How many people would like some one else to come round and make a community project out of their garden and be expected to contribute to costs of design etc ?
I think people have been caught up with the enthusiasm of it, without thinking it through (enough) first.
Roger
In addition to the above....
Look at what we do have and how it is maintained
The utter sadness of Connaught Park...terribly neglected...
The Community Garden adjoining Riverside (Kingfisher Centre)....The Wooden Rose bower and the roses, which were dedicated to someone or something...
The brass plaque has been stolen off the wall
The beds are unkept, the wood has disappeared, the roses etc not maintained...etc.
Strimming and mowing is all that is achieved these days....dedicated husbandry and knowledgeable gardening...belongs to another era.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
charlie
yep then look at folkestone, hythe, and sandgate all looking bright andcheerful
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Keith Sansum 1....
It is as if we are being punished for crimes we did not commit...by choosing to live in Dover.....
We are served ill, and yet pay the same taxes, breath the same air, and have the same expectations....
Something is very wrong somewhere..has been for years since the War...etc..but you cannot pin it down....
Lions served by Donkeys springs to mind
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Yes there is a land title issue - but lets not get into a glorified pi55ing contest about it - why cannot the town and district work together?
We actually do not pay the same Council Tax as Shepway - their rate at each band is higher than DDC's and they are a larger community so they have more money to spend.
If you want someone to care for our open spaces what other spend by either town or district do you want to cut?
Come on lets be more constructive than just the regular mantra of "look at X/Y/Z they are good, we are s*1t"
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I don't think it is a case of (DDC/DTC) not working together Ross, more a case of presumption.
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
ross
i appreciate what you say about folkestone in general
but sandgate and hythe town councils are far far smaller
yet look so bright and cheerful
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
Oh well here goes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I find it interesting the the only really negative comments on here about the community garden have been from a councillor, however well meaning.
No wonder the town is stagnating if that kind of attitude from councillors is the norm.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
I had assumed that the ownership had been looked into before making the front page. However, it's a damn good idea albeit fraught with problems of maintenance and security. I shall certainly go along on Tuesday to discover more about it. Not that that gardening is my forté, I'm too impatient.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Roger is stating facts .We all want to see improvements but the bigger picture needs looking at .When all those undesirables are cleared away from our parks and irresonsible dog owners held to account then perhaps we can move forward .
There is a thread on the forum re the grassed area near Morrisons .A good idea now causing problems .
There are several areas where the community could help.Maison Dieu Gardens is an area where .a few people with time on their hands could maintain it.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
This is a central Dover location with the potential to make an attractive link to York Street. Of course DTC have been in touch with and carried out some preliminary consultations with DDC.
Given the size of the area it is far more than "fiddling about with the edges", this is about getting people involved in brightening up the centre of our town and trying to restore some pride in it. When you consider the amounts DDC has thrown at out of town arts projects to come in to Market Square and insult the traders or set up broken glass in the old bus station, any money given to this project is no more than making amends.
Susan Proudfoot is a very sincere and determined woman with a good idea for the town, the enthusiasm to see it through and the support of people who want to see the town move forward. Instead of sulking on the sidelines and looking for problems the Community garden is a project we should all get behind. Remember the old wartime slogan, "Dig for Victory"? How about we all get in there and "Dig for Dover's Future".
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
