Coney Hall Village Residents' Association (CHVRA)

Behind the scenes at the Open Gardens event

If you missed the Open Gardens event earlier this month, we’ve asked Clare Fleming and Sarah Chant to talk us through what happened on the day. Photos by Jonathan Moore, captions by your editor.

The EACH Open Gardens event that took place on 14th June was a great success. EACH stands for Environmental Action Coney Hall.

  • Wildlife-friendly gardens come in every style.
  • From the wild abundance of oxeye daisies…
  • …to more tailored borders…
  • to cool green spaces for picnicking in the shade.
  • You can use pots to create shady nooks and crannies for wildlife too.
  • And, of course – you can make a pot from anything!

Local wildlife enthusiasts opened their gardens and many people followed the suggested walking route and visited throughout the course of the afternoon. There were a huge variety of gardens and all were showing ways in which they encourage wildlife to thrive in spaces big and small.

The purpose of the event was to support EACH’s mission to make Coney Hall a pollinator village – helping residents to consider different ways they can attract wildlife and support biodiversity. The £5 ticket entry also raised money for local wildlife charities to support their work.

  • Space set aside for a hedgehog to make a home
    There were spaces set aside for hedgehogs to make a home.
  • Shady areas for toads to thrive.
  • Ponds for frogs, toads, birds and fish too.
  • Lots of cover for visiting birds.
  • A bug hotel - pollinators can stay for free!
    And bug hotels, where pollinators can stay for free.
  • Ladybirds enjoying the sun-loving sea holly
    Ladybirds were out, enjoying the sun-loving sea holly

The Deputy Mayor of Bromley, along with local councillors, Alexa Michael and Thomas Turrrell, also visited the gardens.

The event concluded with a visit to Rouse Farm where the owners have created
stunning gardens and worked hard to improve the farm landscape to encourage
wildlife and natural flora.

  • Mavis introduced Solo, a rescue hedgehog she’s caring for.
  • Rouse Farm looked wonderful in the sunshine.
  • Visitors were given a tour around the gardens and the vegetable beds.
  • And had time to grab a drink and socialise in the sun.

The farm hosted tea/coffee and the cake and plant sale which, along with ticket sales, raised over £700, which will be donated equally among the following charities:

This annual event is a lovely way to get inspiration and meet local wildlife
enthusiasts. We’ll be telling you more about it in the next Residents’ Association
magazine in the Autumn, and sharing tips you can try in your own gardens.

  • It was a day full of colour, from the flowers…
  • to the apple trees, which are older than our Coney Hall houses.
  • Members of EACH were there…
  • …sharing their own gardening journeys.
  • And offering tips and encouragement.
  • See you again next year?

EACH is run by Sarah Chant, and supported by members who live in Coney Hall. Clare is on the CHVRA committee, and she’s also part of EACH. All photos (except the EACH members) are by Jonathan Moore who is also on the CHVRA committee.

More information

Here are some handy links to websites that explain how to help wildlife thrive in your own garden. If there’s one thing we learned at the open day, it’s that making a home for our native species doesn’t mean your garden can’t be beautiful too.