Pines Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pines Garden |
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The Pines garden
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| Location | St Margaret's at Cliffe, near Dover, UK |
| Area | 6 acres (24,000 m2) |
| Owned by | The Bay Trust |
| Operated by | The Bay Trust |
| Status | open wed-sun, 10am - 4pm |
| Collections | Arboretum, exotic shrubs, rose garden, |
| Website | Pines Garden website |
Pines Garden is a beautiful park near Dover, UK. It covers 6 acres, which is about the size of four football fields. You can find it on the winding road leading to St Margaret's Bay beach. This special garden is a great place to learn about nature and enjoy peaceful surroundings.
Contents
A Look Back at Pines Garden
Who Was Fred Cleary?
The story of Pines Garden begins with a man named Frederick Ernest Cleary (1905-1984). He was a very successful businessman from London. Fred was known for fixing up many old buildings in the City of London.
Fred loved nature and green spaces. He even created small parks in areas of London that had been damaged. Because of his efforts, people called him 'Flowering Fred'. In 1970, Fred started The Bay Trust. He wanted to protect the natural environment around St. Margaret's Bay. He also aimed to teach people about caring for our planet. Fred's grandson, Alistair Gould, is still part of the trust today.
How the Garden Started
The Bay Trust bought the land for Pines Garden in the 1960s. At first, an artist named Edda Jones lived in the house on the property. The Trust worked hard to improve the gardens. Later, the old house was taken down because it used too much energy.
After that, the garden was opened to the public. It has many cool features to explore. You can find a lovely waterfall and a lake. There is also a grass labyrinth where you can wander. A special part is the organic kitchen garden. It grows about 40 different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Since 2002, the garden has been run using only organic methods. This means they work with nature, not against it. They recycle, compost, and use natural ways to control pests. The garden also has a statue of Winston Churchill by Oscar Nemon. Sometimes, you can see art projects by modern artists displayed here too.
The Calyx Centre
The Calyx Centre is a special building at Pines Garden. Its name, "Calyx," means "husk" or "pod," and the building is shaped like a pod. It was built where the old bungalow used to be.
This conference centre was designed to be super energy-efficient. It was created by a team of experts. The Bay Trust and the designers are all part of the 'Carbon Free Group'. This group works to reduce carbon pollution.
The Calyx Centre has thick walls made of rammed chalk. Its unique domed roof uses a special technique. This technique makes the roof strong and self-supporting. The project was finished in the autumn of 2006.
This building uses much less energy than a typical building. It saves a lot of energy and reduces carbon emissions. Hot water comes from solar panels. If more heat is needed, a small woodchip-fed system warms the floors.
Water management is also very important here. The building gets its water from a special bore-hole. All rainwater that falls on the roof goes back into this supply. Used water from sinks and toilets is cleaned using a reed bed filter. This cleaned water can then be used to water the plants in Pines Garden.
The Calyx Centre is known for being very eco-friendly. It even has a grass roof. It is available for events like weddings and conferences.
St. Margaret’s Museum
You can also find the St. Margaret's Museum at Pines Garden. The museum shares stories about local history. It has displays about St Margaret's during World War II. You can also learn about famous people who lived nearby, like Noël Coward. Other exhibits focus on nature and the environment in the area.
Awards for the Calyx Centre
Since it opened in 2006, the Calyx Centre has won many awards. These awards are from local, national, and even international groups.
- Kent Business Environment Award 2006
- Winner of the Building magazine Sustainability Awards 2007
- The Sustainable City Award 2007
- Winner of the Special Small Project of the Year category Institution of Structural Engineers Building Awards 2007
- Overall Winner of the Kent Design Awards in 2007/2008
- Best Small Building (under £1 million)
