Avon Gardens Trust chairman’s report

           2007- 2008 extract

A selection of comments written by visitors in our guest book

“Well done! What an inspirational garden. You’ve done so well to make a paradise out of a small plot”

“Perfection is rarely achieved but you two have done it!”

“Fabulous. Inspiring for all those stuck with small courtyard gardens”

“A jewel waiting to be discovered by others”

“An absolute delight”

“Just to say I saw your T.V debut and it came over really well. Next time they should give you much longer-perhaps a whole programme devoted to gardens with ‘wow’ “

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."    ~ Marcel Proust

Meeting with Alan Elms and Grenville Johnson who in the space of four years have created the smallest garden to be opened under the National Gardens Scheme.

Situated at 28 Kensington Road, St. George, Bristol , it measures only 18 feet by 20 feet.

Coverage in the national press is an almost monthly event, and celebrity gardeners and royalty all give their stamp of approval.

Alan and Grenville are passionate about preserving inner city gardens which are subject to two main threats: front gardens are being turned into car parks and when houses are turned into flats, they have fire escapes built onto them and their back gardens are neglected.

Grenville and Alan have discussed these problems with Bristol City Council and they have the support of the current Lord Mayor. There is potential for the AGT to lend its support to this campaign, and form a ‘strategic partnership’ which is the type of relationship we need to ensure the future of the trust.