The Pomery approach to Forbury Gardens

Pomery Natural Stone was main supplier of hard landscaping materials which were laid in Abbot's Walk and The Forbury.

Almost exactly a year to the day after they closed, a resplendent Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre re-opened recently following completion of a GBP2million refurbishment scheme.

As well as restored Victorian gardens and the Forbury Lion statue (a well known local landmark), the park has a restored bandstand, water feature, perimeter walls, fencing and gateways.

A new Keeper's Lodge also includes a refreshment kiosk, public toilets and a resident gardener.

Pomery Natural Stone, based nearby at Slough, was the main supplier of hard landscaping materials that formed Phase 3 of the project and which were laid in Abbot's Walk and The Forbury, the road opposite Reading Crown Court that leads to the gardens.

The scheme has revitalised the whole area.

It went hand in hand with the refurbishment of the surrounding Abbot's Walk and the Abbey Ruins - a scheduled ancient monument which dates back at least to the Middle Ages.

Working in close collaboration with English Landscapes Contract Manager, Gerry O'Driscoll, Pomery Natural Stone supplied a quantity of reclaimed granite setts that have been laid in Abbot's Walk around the Abbey.

In The Forbury, Pomery Natural Stone supplied materials for a traffic calming 'table' that has been laid using diamond sawn Yorkstone setts, bordered by silver grey granite kerbs.

New diamond sawn Yorkstone paving features throughout - also bordered by granite kerbing with dropped kerbing and yorkstone tactile paving at crossings - and fine picked granite seating bollards have been used to control parking.

"What's good about this scheme is that the authorities looked at the area as a whole rather than just working on the gardens in isolation," said Phil Kneller of Pomery Natural Stone, who worked closely with English Landscapes.

"Hence, the materials we supplied were used to refurbish the approach to the gardens, which has improved the entire area.

"We've worked successfully with English Landscapes before at Beormund Plaza in South London, another sensitive refurbishment project that revitalised an area with gardens, walkways and seating.

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