At this week’s workday at the Bastion, the Friends welcomed the visit by Gosport Borough Council’s tree officer Stephanie Smith. She has identified the work that needs to be done to the trees on site and a plan to tackle the sycamores on the bank. We were delighted with the waterbag for the newest tree, Prunus Yedoensis. As there is no water supply on the site this will be a great help.

A photograph of the new waterbag on the Bastion’s young cherry tree.

We weeded and mulched around the Parterre and added some more autumn/ winter plants to the raised bed. (There are many definitions for Parterre online. A combination of Collins Dictionary’s definitions – “a formally patterned flower garden or the pit in a theatre” – fits with the way the Bastion’s garden can be looked down on from the ramparts, like a theatre’s pit).

A photograph of some of the Friends maintaining the Bastion’s raised flower bed.

The Friends hold several workdays at the Bastion throughout the year. You are welcome to join us to do weeding and planting or give us some tips from your experience. Keep an eye on the events page of this website for upcoming dates.