How Does Your Garden Grow

How Does Your Garden Grow took place on Sunday 17 June as part of the Love Architecture Festival 2012 led by the architects of Dover's Esplanade, Mike and Anna Tonkin Liu, together with DAD, planting up the shingle beds, where the original planting had not thrived.

The event began with a talk by Paul Holt from the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership on how plants adapt to the harsh environment of the shingle beds and the types of plants that may do well in these conditions. He explained that this type of planting is by its nature experimental with much trial and error.

Several Dover residents joined in with the planting of the many plant plugs - more than we had expected thanks to additional sponsorship from British Wild Flower Plants  - and watering was thanks to a bowser loaned by Dover Town Council with water from the Sea Sports Centre thanks to Vista Leisure. The event was also a chance for Mike and Anna to enjoy their Esplanade on a sunny Sunday along with the many Father's Day visitors to the seafront and a picnic with all the planting participants.

A group of volunteers over the next few weeks will be taking care of the new plants giving them a better chance of survival.

Dover Harbour Board kindly gave their permission for the project and we received a grant from Dover Town Council.

Photos by Chris Burke.