Garden rules

For the benefit of all members who enjoy using these Gardens, the Garden Committee has drawn up a few rules. They can be summarised as a request to all users to behave considerately. Please follow the Rules and help to ensure that they are observed by others. Members use the Gardens at their own risk and the Garden Committee will not be liable for any loss or injury arising from use of the Garden. The Committee reserves the right to suspend a keyholder’s access where they have been found to repeatedly contravene rules.

  • Members can access the gardens through one of the two gates on the North and South side of the Garden.

    The Garden gates are opened using smartphone passes provided by Brivo. Members can request smartphone access passes using the Pass request form on the website.

    Members are responsible for the behaviour in the Gardens of all members of their household and guests.

    Members shall not permit a pass to the Gardens to be given to or lent to anyone not registered as a passholder.

    Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult and should be kept in sight at all times.

    The Committee reserves the right to suspend a member’s access where they have been found to repeatedly contravene rules.

  • Members use the Gardens at their own risk and the Garden Committee will not be liable for any loss or injury arising from use of the Garden.

    Dogs:

    Please ensure that all dog mess is deposited in the sunken bins provided.

    The fine for not picking up your dog’s mess is £50.

    Dogs are not to be exercised in the Gardens after dark.

    Members living outside St James’s Gardens may not bring dogs into the Gardens.

    Particular care needs to be taken by owners with more than one dog. They should be kept in sight at all times.

    The Committee reserves the right to ban dangerous dogs from the garden.

    Ball games:

    Only play in the East garden so as to leave the West garden as a football free zone. If the East garden is busy, please do not play.

    Please do not erect goals or move benches to act as goals.

    Please do not wear studs at any time and please try to avoid the areas where the grass is worn.

    If the ground is wet, please do not play as this damages the turf.

    Personal Trainers: Only Members living in St James’s Gardens may use a personal trainer in the Gardens and are asked to let a member of the Committee know if they do so.

    Food: Please take all waste food and packaging away with you and do not leave it in the bins.

    Other:

    Barbecues, fireworks and fires are not permitted.

    Climbing on fences, gates, shrubs or trees is not permitted.

    Radios and audio equipment may not be played in the Gardens.

  • For gatherings of more than 10 people, the Committee requests that members make a booking via our booking form (see Events section). Bookings are subject to availability, payment of fee and a deposit. Events booked may not last more than 4 hours.

    Other members will still have access to the Garden so please ensure that there is as little disruption to them as possible. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no exclusive use of any area of the gardens even if you have booked that area.

    The maximum number of adults permitted at any event is 30. Members may erect small gazebos but not larger structures such as marquees.

    There should be adult supervision at all times and the keyholder must be present. Catering or waiting staff are not permitted.

    Children’s entertainers are permitted. They should be aware of the garden rules and should ensure that the children do not run in the flower-beds etc.

    A single bouncy castle is permitted and must be fully insured and a copy of the insurance policy should be shared with the Committee. In any event the parents organising the party must take full responsibility for all health and safety issues. Any such equipment must be under adult supervision at all times. The Garden Committee accepts no liability for use of the Garden.

    Amplified music / speakers are not permitted.

    Please clean up immediately after the event, removing all the rubbish from the garden. Please do NOT use the garden rubbish bins for this.

    The gates must be kept closed at all times. If you are expecting guests to arrive, the gates must be manned or your guest contact you by mobile phone.

    Any members who contravene the event rules may be banned from holding events for a period determined by the Committee.