beside the seaside

To Worthing for some much needed CPD – a strange place for a landscape designer to visit for technical detailing, inspiration, maintenance and management etc. but Splash Point was the reason for this, so look at the link to get some idea of the rationale of the scheme. Many of the south coast towns sited directly on the sea front are entering into some rejuvenation of facilities and therefore increased visitor footfall – Margate has a new Turner Gallery; Dover sea front has a new landscape  and Folkestone hosts the triennial; The Jerwood opens in Hastings next month and Bexhill is the home of the De La Warr pavilion and new landscaping for what its worth!  Eastbourne houses The Towner Gallery and everyone knows about Brighton. A bit of a list and, looking at it, quite art based. There is always discussion on whether landscape design is an art! I see there’s also discussion at the moment on the word ‘space’ and ‘outdoor room’ as being old hat or, just simply difficult to understand – for goodness sake!

It’s a tight intervention which works quite well within the small area. It’s quite edgy  – sharp angles, crisp hard surfaces, complete contrast to the surroundings, makes you stop and look, is uncompromising – and, may date, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  Worthing is dated after all although the pier won best in category fairly recently.

Some of the slate bouldors are engraved with a variety of topics. Oscar Wilde apparently presented prizes for the best dressed vessels when he visited as well as writing a large part of The Importance of Being Ernest here and nodding recognition in the naming of a character.

It was below freezing yesterday at 10am but some locals inhabit the ‘space’!  I am interested to see how the clean stemmed form of the tamarisk tree grows, survives or falls over! A bold treatment of a twiggy, large bush/shrub in these environments  . . .  and anyway why not. The designers have sent me this image of summertime. The trees came from Van den Berk nursery.

The rest of the sea front looks like this . . . .

maybe that’s what is expected and enjoyed so hence this below. A set of  Lyrics with this post not really a poem as the music is definitely required for the ‘Tiddely-om-pom-pom!”- and featured in so many films!

Everyone delights to spend their summer’s holiday
Down beside the side of the silvery sea
I’m no exception to the rule
In fact, if I’d my way
I’d reside by the side of the silvery sea.
But when you’re just the common or garden Smith or Jones or Brown
At bus’ness up in town
You’ve got to settle down.
You save your money all the year till summer comes around
Then away you go
To a place you know
Where the cockle shells are found.

Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside
I do like to be beside the sea!
I do like to stroll upon the Prom, Prom, Prom!
Where the brass bands play:
“Tiddely-om-pom-pom!”
So just let me be beside the seaside
I’ll be beside myself with glee

And there’s lots of girls beside,
I should like to be beside
Beside the seaside!
Beside the sea!

William Sykes the burglar,
He’d been out to work one night
Filled his bag with jewels, cash, and plate.
Constable Brown felt quite surprised when William hove in sight
Said he: “The hours you’re keeping are far too late.”
So he grabbed him by the collar and lodged him safe and sound in jail
Next morning looking pale
Bill told a tearful tale.
The judge said, “For a couple of months I’m sending you away!”
Said Bill: “How kind!
Well! If you don’t mind
Where I spend my holiday!”

Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside
I do like to be beside the sea!
I do like to stroll upon the Prom, Prom, Prom!
Where the brass bands play:
“Tiddely-om-pom-pom!”
So just let me be beside the seaside
I’ll be beside myself with glee
And there’s lots of girls beside,
I should like to be beside
Beside the seaside!
Beside the sea!    John A. Glover-Kind

enjoy !