21 Jul 2026
Just three years ago a community group came together with the mission of bringing the Civic Rose Garden back to life.
The site, which is located behind the Civic Centre, had been sadly neglected due to a lack of funding, a very common problem across the country.
Championed by two determined women, horticulturist Chris Graves and district councillor Josie Madoc, a plan was devised for a contemporary design with a focus on providing year round interest, ensuring resilience to climate change and increased biodiversity, as well as recreating an attractive public garden, which would be more welcoming and more widely used by the whole community.
After much hard work the plan is at last coming to fruition, and the garden is re-emerging as a beautiful and peaceful city centre green space.
The impact of climate change in the last two years has been very hard especially on the new planting, but it’s coping well other than for the need to nurture the newly planted trees and wildlife hedging.
The establishment of a new herb bed really underlined the impact; the layout was created in spring 2025 but planting was deferred to later in the year because of the summer drought and high temperatures.
Left to its own devices the area self-seeded with nicotiana and mirabilis – the four o’clock plant which is usually seen in hotter countries. How they arrived nobody can establish but both grew to preposterous heights with a brilliant display of flowers, without any rain or watering. As the old saying goes, the right plant in the right place.
The succession planting is working well, providing year round colour and interest, with grasses and plants providing structure in the winter, followed by ever-changing displays of snowdrops, daffodils, scillas, tulips, irises, the first flush of roses, verbena, lavender, catmint, geraniums, all of which are complimented by grasses.
All of this supports insect life, bees, moths and butterflies, and the big increase in the visitors which volunteers have observed when working onsite.
St Albans City Centre BID decided to arrange a series of music events in the summer months, with the next is on Wednesday August 5, in order to put the garden to good use.
The team of volunteers has been supported by a variety of different organisations, making this a true community wide effort Heartwood Forest offered expert advice and a team to plant wildlife hedges, Communities 1st provided helpers to plant euonymus to replace dead box and the Community Payback team dug out pervasive ground elder. Support and encouragement came from the Soroptimists, St Albans Civic Society, the Arc and Arc, the City Guides, Veolia, the Lions Club, councillors and council officers and many other local companies and individuals.
The programme of work for the remainder of 2026 is to renovate two remaining shady beds, removing the dead box, retaining much of the existing catmint and geraniums – a big draw for the bee population – redefining the outline and adding appropriate planting to bring colour and interest throughout the year.
To carry out this work they need modest financial support, and even a small donation would be gratefully received. Visit their JustGiving page for details.
If you would like to join the team of volunteers, please email garden.regeneration@gmail.com
