After the hole was filled in

by Ian Sutherland

In 2024 I wrote an article for the CHIS magazine “The Filling of Canynge Square Hole” which took place between March 2024 and May 2024.  Unfortunately, the contractor, engaged by the council to fill the hole and refit the rescued gate that had fallen into it, experienced financial problems.  They completed the hole fill and put topsoil over the lawn area and seeded it. However, they were unable to install the gate. Once they had left the site there were still a number of major tasks to complete including the gate.  The south end, that had been the entrance for heavy trucks and concrete lorries, was left with curb stones in a mess and both the north and south ends needed hedge replacements. In addition, paving was required by the entrance of the North Gate as the original paving had been a victim of the damage caused by the hole.

Fig 1: The Pagoda tree that caused the collapse of two 30-foot-deep cellars 6 feet below the surface of the Square on December 25th, 2020.

It now became possible for the Council with support from the Canynge Square Garden Committee (CSGC) to start restoring the garden back to its former state. The task ahead however was a daunting one. The fencing off and closure of half the garden for over four years - and complete closure while the hole was filled - had meant the garden had succumbed to the wild. Many of the borders had lost all definition and the plants and shrubs had become overgrown. What had been the lawn was now one large area waiting for the seed to grow.

One of the first tasks successfully completed was the reinstatement of the rockery at the southern end of the Square which had been disturbed by the heavy lifting machinery used to fill the hole. Rockeries were a feature in many Victorian gardens and the one in Canynge Square was said to have been particularly interesting and with significant stones, some of which were exposed during the restoration and repositioned by BCC Parks with a digger.The rebuilding, which took place in August, 2024, was designed and overseen by a knowledgeable resident (Val Howard) who, once the stones were in place, planted ferns and foxgloves between them.

Although the Council cleared some of the borders, they only cleared the top growth that soon grew back again – progress toward opening the garden was extremely slow – so slow, that the Garden Committee decided to take matters into their own hands.  During the second half of the year Philippa (who led a Garden Restoration Sub-committee comprising Valerie Howard, Colin Shurrock and Vivienne Sutherland) organised various working parties to start tidying up theborders. However, it was with the arrival of Spring 2025 that the restoration gathered some pace.  One of the major tasks was to reinstate the lawn which was always seen as the heart of the Square. The whole lawn area had to be seeded and the first attempt at this was only partially successful. The seed had been put down at the least favourable time of year and it failed to thrive.  A great deal of time and effort was expended on how to best ensure a healthy lawn and eventually we engaged Lawn Science who applied ‘weed & feed’, aerated, and reseeded the lawn again. Access to the garden was restricted to those working in it to give the existing grass and new seed a good chance to get established. Once again nature intervened to put our plans in jeopardy as the seed was put down just as Bristol entered a heatwave which meant the seeds would struggle to germinate without water.

How to water the grass during the hot and dry summer? An ever-practical neighbour (Colin Shurrock) had the brainwave of using a standpipe outside Number 43. Other residents (Nick Waugh, Steve Allpress and Ian Sutherland) helped Colin facilitate the set up with hoses and sprinklers and for the next two months a rota of residents helped water the grass seed almost daily. Once the grass was being established, attention turned to the borders. BCC Parks were very helpful clearing the borders of the superficial wildness. However, dealing with the large stumps and deep roots was not something they would help with so an outside contractor ‘Bustastump’ was commissioned by CSGC to tackle these. They did a great job and, after they had finished and all the detritus cleared, it was possible to start thinking about restocking the borders.

Trees have always been a big part of the Square gardens and the recent loss of four beautiful significant trees was keenly felt. A great deal of thought was put into what should be planted in their place and where the new trees should go. In mid-March four sponsored trees were planted to replace those lost. These included a Judas Tree, Persian Ironwood, Paul’s Scarlett and Indian Bean Tree.  The trees were chosen from a list of suggestions from the BCC tree officer and reflected the official guidance that all new trees in the northern end of the Square, where the hole had been, should be smaller varieties.  In addition to these four trees, a small Bristol Whitebeam sapling was purchased from the Bristol Botanical Gardens in mid-April and planted in the border at the northern end. The Bristol Whitebeam is a rare tree native to the Gorge area and it was felt that this combination of trees reflected the original Victorian plan for both exotic and native trees.

While many of the key tasks were coming to fruition, progress was proving slow on some of the hard landscaping works. CSGC had withheld the £50,000, raised for filling the hole, from the Council.  Having given the Council ample opportunity to get on with things, the Council agreed that the committee could progress things themselves and deduct the costs from the £50,000. The job to restore and install the gate, rebuild part of the dwarf wall and dig trenches ready forbeech saplings went to tender and the winning contractor started work in August when the gate was finally installed and paving laid.

Two months later the beech saplings were planted in the gaps at the north and south end. And almost finally, a number of shrubs were planted in the north and north west border to replace those removed.

The grass watering paid off and the grass is now well established and robust having survived a Midsummer picnic and a heavy footfall Halloween! As the recently laid earth settles some dips are appearing. These can hopefully be levelled out over future years. Most trees and shrubs are doing well. Next year’s tasks include reinstating the grass edge at the northern end and tidying borders plus planting a few more shrubs in the north western border.

Fig. 2: North end of Canynge Square Garden where the sink hole was with Gate restored, new hedge growing, new trees planted and borders restored.

We would like to thank Councillors Paula O’Rourke, Katy Grant and Jerome Thomas for their continued help and support and in particular Paula for suggesting a joint funding scheme with the Council; the BCC Parks Department and in particular, Teija & John for providing shrubs; the BCC tree officer for help with deciding what trees to plant and putting us in touch with ‘Trees for Streets’ who planted and care for the trees sponsored by residents; our gardeners Paul & Simon who have been working extremely hard; Susi Batty, an ex-resident for her advice on garden layout, residents and friends who not only contributed financially but gave of their time to help and particularly Philippa Morgan who has tirelessly kept us all on task and finally thanks to Linda Edwards for her initiative in asking CHIS for their generous financial support