August Gardening Day at the Japanese Garden: Restoring Balance and Welcoming New Friends

In the heat of August, our team of dedicated volunteers returned to the Japanese Garden of Peace in Hammersmith Park for another fulfilling day of gardening. This session was filled with essential maintenance tasks, exciting progress, and the addition of new volunteers who joined our mission to care for this tranquil space. With summer in full swing, the Garden had begun to show signs of overgrowth, and our efforts were focused on restoring balance and beauty.

A picture is worth a thousand words they say, so here are a few before & after pictures followed by a few highlights of our major achievements - more details after the gallery, if you're interested!

Restoring the Stone Basin Area

Our first task focused on uncovering the traditional stone basin, a beloved feature that had been hidden beneath months of unchecked vegetation. The overgrowth had dulled the basin’s allure and disrupted its function as a peaceful focal point in the garden. With a mix of pruning tools and determination, our volunteers worked carefully to trim back the encroaching plants. The result was a restored, serene space that once again invites visitors to pause and reflect, surrounded by the simple beauty of the stone basin. Go have a look!

Cutting Back Overgrown Dogwood Plants

Next on the agenda was trimming the dogwood plants scattered throughout the Garden. These plants, known for their beautiful white flowers, had started to grow wild. Volunteers worked hard to cut them back in several key spots, creating more space for other plants and ensuring the garden’s aesthetic harmony was maintained. Their efforts helped to keep the garden looking pristine, highlighting its characteristic clean lines and open spaces.

Managing the Pond Banks

The pond is the heart of our garden, but its banks had been overtaken by grasses, disrupting its delicate ecosystem and hiding the pond away. Our team carefully removed the overgrown grasses, restoring the pond’s peaceful appearance and protecting the plants and wildlife that thrive in this balanced environment. The newly cleared banks now allow the pond to once again serve as a calm, reflective centrepiece.

Re-establishing Water Flow Around the Bridge

In addition to the work on the pond banks, volunteers also focused on clearing the area around the bridge. Over the summer, lily pads and invasive weeds had grown dense in this section, blocking water flow and disturbing the natural look of the pond. By removing these obstructions, our team successfully re-established the gentle flow of water under the bridge, improving the health of the pond and enhancing its visual appeal. The clear, flowing water now creates a more peaceful atmosphere for visitors, offering them a perfect view of the garden’s reflection in the pond.

Special Pruning by Graham Bowyer of the Japanese Garden Society

A highlight of the day was the visit from Graham Bowyer, Southeast Chair of the Japanese Garden Society and skilled gardener. Graham joined us for this session and brought his expertise to one of our long-awaited tasks—pruning the juniper trees. Over time, the junipers had grown unruly, with branches in need of skilled attention - some of them were simply immersed in the streams! Graham’s careful and precise pruning of three of our four juniper trees brought them back to their intended shape, giving the garden a more polished and refined appearance. This was a task we had been hoping to accomplish for quite some time, and thanks to Graham’s expert work, the junipers are now once again key focal points in the landscape.

Welcoming New Volunteers

In this session, we were thrilled to welcome three new volunteers to the team. Their enthusiasm and energy were a wonderful addition to the group. From helping clear vegetation to assisting with the pond work, our new volunteers made an immediate impact and were warmly embraced by the rest of the team. We look forward to seeing them in future sessions as we continue our work in the garden.

Looking Ahead

The August session was filled with significant progress, but as always, there’s still plenty more to do. Our work in the Japanese Garden of Peace is an ongoing project, and every session brings us closer to maintaining the garden’s delicate balance. As we look ahead to the coming months, we will continue to focus on keeping the garden healthy, beautiful, and welcoming for all visitors.

We invite anyone with a passion for gardening, nature, or simply giving back to the community to join us for our next session. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just looking to lend a hand, there’s always a place for you at the Japanese Garden of Peace.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who participated in the August session, especially to our new volunteers and to Graham Bowyer for his invaluable contribution. Your dedication is what keeps this garden thriving, and we look forward to seeing you again next month as we continue our mission to preserve and enhance this tranquil oasis in Hammersmith Park.

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved!

Volunteering Gardening Day at the Japanese Garden of Peace: July Session Highlights

Last Sunday, our wonderful team of volunteers gathered once again at the Japanese Garden of Peace in Hammersmith Park, determined to maintain the beauty and tranquillity of this cherished space. With the late summer sun shining down, we took on a variety of tasks that made a real impact on the garden’s appearance and health.

This session was extra special as we welcomed new faces and celebrated a volunteer’s birthday!

As always, here are some pictures of the hard work we did:

And here's a recap of the key highlights from July's session!

Cleaning Blanket Algae in the Pond

A standout achievement of the day was the heroic effort to remove blanket algae from the garden’s pond. Two brave volunteers donned waders and, helped by three others from the outside, spent the majority of their day diligently clearing the algae both inside and along the edges. Their hard work has significantly improved the pond's clarity and helped to restore its serene beauty. With the algae now under control, the pond is once again a calm, reflective surface that complements the peaceful environment of the garden.

Weeding the Rock Garden

Meanwhile, another team focused their efforts on the rock garden, tackling an overgrowth of weeds that had started to invade the carefully arranged stones. Volunteers methodically removed the weeds, revealing the garden’s sculpted lines and enhancing its natural harmony. By clearing away the unwanted plants, we’ve ensured that the rock garden remains a key feature of the space, allowing visitors to fully appreciate its design and serenity.

Pruning Around the Paths

In addition to the work in the rock garden, volunteers also took on the task of pruning branches that had begun to encroach on the pathways. Over time, these branches started to invade the garden’s walking paths, making it difficult for visitors to navigate the space. By cutting them back, the volunteers have restored the open, airy feel of the garden, allowing guests to move freely and enjoy the surrounding beauty without obstruction.

Welcoming New Volunteers and Celebrating a Birthday

July’s session also had a special sense of community as we welcomed five new volunteers to the team. Their enthusiasm and hard work made an immediate impact, and it was heartwarming to see everyone working together so seamlessly.

To top it all off, we had the joy of celebrating a birthday with a bit of cake! After a rewarding day of gardening, everyone gathered to share a sweet treat and some laughter, adding to the sense of camaraderie that makes these volunteer days so special.

Looking Ahead

As always, our work in the Japanese Garden of Peace is ongoing, and we’re already planning our next volunteer day. We invite anyone with a passion for nature, gardening, or simply giving back to the community to join us next month. Each session brings us closer to preserving this beautiful oasis in Hammersmith Park for everyone to enjoy.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to this July session. Your contributions are vital to our mission, and we can’t wait to see you again next month as we continue to care for the Japanese Garden of Peace.

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved!

Keeping the Japanese Garden Beautiful: Our Latest Volunteer Session

Our dedicated volunteers gathered once again at the serene Japanese Garden of Peace in Hammersmith Park last Sunday, continuing our mission to maintain and enhance this beautiful space. This time, we focused on a variety of tasks, making significant strides in several key areas of the garden and sending another 6 ton bags full of cuttings and weeds back to the yard to turn into compost.

Here are a few before/after pictures, and you can find more details about all the tasks our Volunteers dedicated themselves to below. There's a little surprise with wings towards the end, so it's worth scrolling!

Battling Bamboo Regrowth

Loppers in hand, we revisited the areas where we pruned bamboo last month. The regrowth was quite strong, and our volunteers worked hard to remove the new shoots. Despite our efforts, it’s clear that this will be an ongoing task. The bamboo’s resilience means we’ll need to continue this battle in the next month to try and keep the growth in check. It's going to be hard work, but we're ready for it!

Pushing the Iris back

Our volunteers also tackled the iris plants that had begun to spread from the pond into the nearby grass area. By removing these plants, we’ve helped to maintain the clear lines and open spaces that are characteristic of the garden’s design. This ensures that the grassy areas remain accessible and visually appealing.

Rescuing the Red Acer

One of our key tasks was to free our prized red acer from the grasp of the overgrown Carex. This beautiful tree is one of the jewels of the garden, and it was being engulfed by the aggressive Carex growth. Our volunteers carefully removed the plants, allowing the acer to once again take centre stage in its dominant position by the bridge.

Tackling Pond Weeds

In and around the ponds, volunteers removed a significant amount of weeds, including some Great Water Dock. This effort not only improves the appearance of the ponds but also helps to maintain the health of the aquatic ecosystem. The clear, weed-free water now provides a better environment for wildlife and a more pleasant view for visitors. But it's not just about human visitors: many birds immediately took advantage of the cleaned stones on the lateral waterfall to take a quick, refreshing, bath! Have a look for yourself!

Looking Ahead

Our work in the Japanese Garden is ongoing, and each session helps us to achieve our goal of preserving this beautiful space for all to enjoy. We’re already planning our next volunteer day, where we will continue to focus on maintaining the health and beauty of the garden.

A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to this session. Your contributions are vital to our mission, and we look forward to seeing you next month as we continue our work in the Japanese Garden of Peace.

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved in preserving this tranquil oasis in Hammersmith Park!