More than 30 volunteers joined the Big Dig of the Big Bed to start preparing the ground for replanting later this year.
The Lee Manor Society and the Friends of Manor House Gardens, along with many others including the Lee Green WI and the Scouts joined the mass dig.
The Big Bed Rescue is a collaboration between the Friends of the Gardens and the Lee Manor Society. With support from the Mayor of London’s Green Roots Fund and the Lewisham Council NCIL Fund, the project is aiming to restore the bed, near the cafe on the north side of the park. It had been neglected and overgrown for many years. The plan is to make the bed a sensory and educational experience.
The Big Dig involved creating “Hugel” mounds, which will help keep the ground well-watered, “Hugelkultur” is a traditional gardening method that builds self-watering, nutrient-rich raised beds by burying logs, branches, and organic debris.
“We’re aiming for the bed to be more climate resilient and be able to make the most of rain when it does rain, but also hold on to the moisture when it starts to dry out because we’re going to end up probably with more summers like we did this year,” explained Lucy Anne Bishop.
The Big Bed Rescue is also being supported by Holly and Hayley of HH Garden Landscapes.
If you would like to join the volunteer group who help maintain Manor House Gardens please email leemanorsociety@gmail.com
