If you’re looking to savour the delights of our spring awakening – and don’t want to pay for the experience – take a walk along Royal Avenue and pop into the Botanical Gardens, just past the Duck Ponds.
They, incidentally, still have some water in them!
We did just that on a beautifully sunny day, but don’t let the weekend weather put you off.
Several talking points along the way – starting with the flower beds just below the Royal Crescent lawns. They are looking lovely and reflect the work the Parks Department put in – not only here but in Parade Gardens too.
It’s a great photo opportunity and a point at which you can ‘capture’ the Georgian architecture behind it.
I couldn’t help wondering, though, whether such formal flower beds were now a thing of the past. With climate change in mind, could there be another way of displaying nature’s floral charms? What do you think?
It’s always a pleasure to pop into The Urban Garden, which describes itself as ‘ the smallest garden centre with the biggest heart’ and theurbangarden.org.uk will tell you more.
Another thought. Here you can see the effect of hundreds of people piling out of their coaches on Royal Avenue (next stop: Stonehenge!) to get a picture of the Royal Crescent.
Why not install a proper pathway at this point? It would at least save other parts of the embankment from wear and tear.
One final point. Barbecues are not allowed on the Royal Crescent Lawn, so why allow them in Victoria Park? I hate those disposable barbecues the supermarkets encourage people to buy.
They burn the grass and – often when thrown into litter bins – burn the container to the ground.
By all means, enjoy a picnic, but bring the food with you.
Just my point of view, but what do others think?
I wold ban all disposable barbecues completely and the sale thereof. If you must have a barbecue, have it in your own back yard on a proper appliance!