The Friends of House Gardens MAG. Minutes of the Quarterly General Meeting held on 6th September 2012 at Eastcote Methodist Church Pamela Gardens Eastcote.

Meeting opened 8.50p.m.

Present :-Lesley Crowcroft, Chairman, Chris Groom Deputy Chairman, Keith Barnard, Treasurer, Stuart Hunt, Green Spaces Officer LBH, Joan Butfield, Minute Secretary, Carolyn Morrissey FoB&CMAG, Ed Fuller, FO Warrender Park. Rob Cousins FO Pinn Meadows. Zoe Drewett Gazette, Jane Neave, Jenny Gurdon, Jess Lee, Ian Murray, Rosemary Bucksey, Tessa Kershaw, Francis Hawkins, Linda Furnell, Gerry Edwards. Residents from the Eastcote Park Estate as follows:- Chris Head, Greg Tanner, Richard Maude, Tessa Maude, Richard White, Felicity White, Mark Rondel, Dawn Rondel, Marg Bacon.

Apologies for Absence:- Councillors from both Cavendish and Eastcote/East Ward. Susan Toms, Heather Chamberlain, Adele & Jerry Clooney, Mark lemon, Gill Hughes, Nick Woodley, David Bennington, Barbara Porkett.

2. Minutes of last meeting 7th June 2012 were approved. 3. Matters arising not on the Agenda. Richard Maude read a prepared statement on behalf of Eastcote Park Residents voicing their concerns about recent alterations in the Walled Garden. Their greatest worry was about the additional entrance to the garden which had suddenly appeared in the south wall. They felt that the residents should have been consulted on this. Their complaint was made against the background of a long history of rowdyism and vandalism which starts in the walled garden and then spills out into the surrounding roads. This always takes place in the evenings when there is no park ranger on duty and residents have been unable to get the police to respond. As a result of their representations they have the agreement of LBH that when not in use the gate in the new opening will be locked. Whilst EPR support the improvements made to the gardens they remain apprehensive about the security of their properties and the possibility of increasing noise levels. Unfortunately individual residents hold The Friends responsible for the new opening and the Chairman has received a spate of emails, some aggressive in tone, predicting that this latest development will only make the problem worse. In the discussion which followed it emerged that the Friends, as with residents were not consulted about the new opening. The application was for Listed Building Consent. LBC does not require a public consultation. That for 3years the Chairman has campaigned to get the walls raised and the garden secured. At a design meeting earlier that day she learnt that there was a technique available which would allow the walls to be pushed upright and they could then be raised to their original height. It was agreed that, a) Gerry Edwards would be the liaison between EPE and FEHG so that the 2 groups could work more closely together. b) That both groups would campaign for the walls to be raised so that the gardens could be secured at night. Members of EPE agreed to help with the distribution of the leaflets about the consultation on 28 th and 29 th September. The ERA road stewards would also be asked to help. c) At a meeting with the police the next day, following the most recent break in at the Dovecote, their advice would also be sought on the action that should be taken in the event of any further vandalism.

4. Chairman’s report • The Jubilee Gates were opened by the Mayor of and Cllr Ray Puddifoot Leader of the Council at the end of June. • The archaeological exploration was well attended both by volunteer ‘diggers’, school groups, uniformed groups and members of the Public. Valiantly Linda, with a broken arm, organized a tea tent. Evidence was found that the site had been inhabited for over 700 years. Geophysics also revealed the possible foundations of a medieval barn. In view of the wide interest shown in the dig, it was the wish of the meeting to request separate presentation of the archaeological findings in addition to the one report planned as part of the part of the public consultation • During July & August EHG played host to several sets of Judges for London in Bloom, It’s Your Neighbourhood and Community Garden, and also, as part of the Hillingdon entry for Britain in Bloom. After the judging for BiB, representatives of the Friends went to a reception for volunteer groups at the Norman Leddy Memorial Gardens Hayes, hosted by LBH. London in Bloom results will be known later in the year, Britain in Bloom result will be announced October 5 th . • St. Andrews Church made EHG a recipient of their August Coffee Morning raising £214 for the restoration fund. Thanks were given to Linda Furnell and Chris Groom for their help in promoting the Gardens at the Coffee Morning. • The extra Community Day held in July was not able to tend the wildlife hedge as planned, because an emergency removal of plants from the Walled Garden was required. 5. Treasurer’s report The treasurer reported that the accounts up to 30 th April 2012 were now audited and available for inspection. He hoped that next year they would be presented at the AGM in June. The General Account now stands at £3077:51 and The Restoration Account at £6225:89 both accounts to date of meeting. The meeting passed a vote of thanks to Steve Dunn for all the work he does as our Honorary Auditor.

6. Projects. • Heritage Lottery Fund Bid • The archaeologists have carried out a survey of the stables, and surveys of the grounds. The geo- physical survey revealed an outline of a large building in the area leading to the . It is speculated that this is the outline of a medieval barn. If the Bid is successful more archaeology will take place. • The architects have now carried out a survey of the stables and their report on repairs etc is awaited. • The Public Consultation will take place on 28 th & 29 th September at St Thomas More from 10am -4pm each day. Rees-Bolter Architects will be giving talks and answering questions at 11am & 2pm each day. On Saturday at 12.30 there will be a talk by the archaeologists on the finds at EHG. On Friday refreshments will be supplied by the Friends, and on Saturday by Vintage Tea 2 You. • The Activity plan is moving along and the following trials for this have taken place. The history walks were very successful with walkers expecting a fortnightly walk! Many thanks to Susan Toms who led the walks. The Bat walks led by Dragana were also successful, although the second walk was rather short in numbers because it had rained all day. The Vintage Tea gardens have been a great success, although the July event was cancelled because of the weather. • The possible uses for EHG if restoration takes place will be put forward at the Consultation. If the.HLF bid is successful we must show that there will be an income to maintain the buildings, so it is vital that we get as many local groups as possible interested in using them. • Cllr. Ray Puddifoot, Leader of the Council has agreed to underwrite the Friends match funding contribution of 25K. This sum was submitted without the knowledge of The Friends. This means that all funding is secured for the bid to go forward. • It is understood that the Snooker Club will be moving out within 6-8 weeks. Security will then be installed.

• Emergency Repairs • These eventually started on 23 rd July. Progress has been painfully slow with these repairs and their standard has been questioned. The contractors have desecrated the wall borders. Green Spaces have said that we can have help from Blue Sky team to help with restoring them. The problem has been that the workmen do not speak English and the foreman is there infrequently. If these repairs are not finished before the first frosts they will be delayed again until next year, because lime mortar cannot be used in frosty weather. • If the wall is to be raised we will only do temporary replanting in these beds. • Chrysalis Bid for gardeners’ safe store • Storage container was dealt with in CP meeting. The location of the gardeners’ facility if HLF monies are obtained is still under discussion.

7. Future Events • Next QGM 6 th December. • Gardening sessions 7 th , 8 th & 20 th September. 5 th , 13 th & 18 th October. 2 nd , 10 th & 15 th November, 7 th , 8 th & 20 th December. • Vintage Tea gardens. 9 th September & 14 th October. 11am-4pm • Eastcote Horticultural Show 8 th September. • London Open House 23 rd September 10am -4pm • EHG Public Consultation 28 th & 29 th September • 60+ Fair Pavilions 9 th October. • Week beginning 22 nd October School Bulb planting. • Saturday 27 th Community Volunteer day..River Pinn. • Saturday 1 st December Tree Dressing, the Mayor & Mayoress of Hillingdon will attend. 8 AOB There was no AOB

Meeting closed.9.40 pm