Caversham Court restoration project 1-19 September 2008

Tree works have been completed. This has included selective felling and pruning of trees within the garden and on Church Road. Tree planting will be done in the winter.

Archaeological investigations have been completed. Eight exploratory trenches were dug, to assess the condition of the causeway walls and to locate the foundations of the house and outbuildings demolished in the 1930s. The trenches were excavated, artefacts removed, measurements recorded, and the trenches were filled in again.

A third ecological survey was carried out, to determine the presence of bats in the garden. On each occasion, in different seasons, no evidence of roosting has been found.

With the assistance of two prisoners, the box plants from the knot garden have been lifted and transplanted into temporary home in the allotments, and a 2 metre pathway cleared along the base of the crinkle crankle wall. All fencing has been removed from the causeway, a planting strip at the top of the glasshouse border has been cleared, and the long border has been sprayed off. The rockery has also been strimmed and cleared.

Orders have been placed for bulb and herbaceous plants. The latter are being grown to order.

The following guided walks and public presentations have taken place:

• 4 Sep Guided walk around the archaeological trenches for the Friends of Caversham Court and Greenspace staff, conducted by the Head Gardener
• 4 Sep Reading Evening Post photographed the gardens, and the gardener gave a telephone interview about the work of the archaeologists on site
• 5 Sep Guided walk for staff from the Parks Department
• 12 and 13 Sep Reading Heritage Open Days guided walks conducted by the Head Gardener. These were well attended
• 13 Sep The Friends of Caversham Court arragned a stand at the Caversham Festival to raise awareness and attract new members