A secret place within our city’s heritage

How well do you know – or know of – the Grade II Listed Secret Garden in the Kemp Town Conservation Area? The good news is that an application by the Antony Dale Trust for improvements to the garden In Bristol Gardens was granted by the council a few months ago.

The Antony Dale Trust applied for the refurbishment of the existing pavilion structure and the construction of sensitively designed additions to the existing pavilion and garden, using traditional materials and elegant light weight designs to bring into prominence and view the existing historic fabric and setting.

The proposals would provide fully compliant disabled access and accessible toilet facilities and a flexible learning and hospitality space that will enable extended public and safe community access to the garden’s heritage, history, and cultural programme.

The plot was purchased in 1950 by the family of Antony Dale, founder of the Regency Society. Since 2008 the garden has been managed by The Antony Dale Trust, a registered charity run by a dedicated group of volunteer trustees, to manage the continuing stewardship and care of the garden; to raise funds; and ensure its ongoing use in perpetuity as a garden for the local community and for creative and artistic activities in a natural garden setting. They have enabled its ongoing use as a community garden, providing opportunities for local children, hospices and other charities, as well as artistic and educational groups, to make use of the space. The trust has also overseen the restoration of the historic Regency garden with a sensitive planting design and it is now an established sculpture garden with regular exhibitions that are open to the public every weekend between April and October.