We are delighted to announce that this fantastic project is now entering its final stages and is on schedule for completion in Spring 2012 in readiness for our Olympian Wedding Season.
With the gardens set to be more stunning and unique than ever before many couples have booked earlier than usual, and weekends throughout the Summer are already very busy. We are well and truly ready for a leap year full of beautiful dream weddings.
The new display gardens will unite the museum's indoor and outdoor collections and will include a Medicinal Garden, Food Garden, Dye Garden, Materials Garden, Animal Walk, Music Garden and Wildlife Garden.
Work on the Bandstand Terrace is nearly complete. The new Pavilion building is finished and now just needs furnishing. This will be a fantastic area for school groups and events, as it has its own kitchen, toilets, cloakroom and projector. Floor to ceiling windows make the space very bright. These windows fold back at the front, giving easy access onto a large terrace overlooking the London skyline.
Behind the new Pavilion building is the redesigned animal enclosure. There is now a central path through the enclosure and lovely wooden huts have been installed. However, there is still work to be done to make these areas safe and comfortable for the new animals so we won’t be seeing any occupants until later in the year.
On the bandstand itself, the old screens have come down and new wooden screens have been installed, with large glass panels so that audiences to concerts and performances can enjoy the dramatic views of London beyond. The bandstand also has a new oak floor and the weather vane has been reinstalled.
At the Pavilion end of the terrace, there are lovely new picnic benches and plane trees, which, when in leaf, will provide a fantastic 'avenue' of shade. A new addition to the bandstand terrace is the Sound Garden which has five sculptural musical instruments which both adults and children will be able to enjoy.
Fundraising for the Gardens’ project is making good progress. Thanks to the support of the National Lottery, through the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund, and other generous supporters, much of the £2.3 million needed has been raised. There is now a public appeal to help raise £50,000 towards this final target. This is the time when your own contribution can make all the difference, with opportunities such as buying gifts of a tree, picnic bench or more to help with fundraising. To find out more go to the Horniman Museum's ‘Help the Gardens’ page.
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