Saturday 16 March 2024

GREEN SPACES NEED FRIENDS

 Following on from my recent blog, here is a chart from Dave Morris, Chair of the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces.

GREEN SPACES NEED FRIENDS! - The why, what and how of Friends Groups
Logo: National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces

Saturday 9 March 2024

FRIENDS OF PARKS GROUPS AND PARK IMPROVEMENTS

 ACTIVE FRIENDS OF PARKS GROUPS REALLY DO HELP TO IMPROVE LOCAL PARKS 

Sydenham locals may be aware that our parks are currently managed by Glendale, the park management contractors for the land owner - London Borough of Lewisham. Parks are essential open spaces for people to come and relax, to socialise, to be active, to enjoy the flora and fauna. 

So, how does having a Friends group fit into that scheme?  In no particular order, here are some reasons:

  • Friends of parks groups can help to influence decisions about their parks and support long-term improvements
  • Communications with parks contractors and the Council: Regular park users are in the park most days - they know what works and what the problems are. They pass on information to those who manage the park to ensure improvements.
  • Diverse interest groups:  Friends group members have many different ideas which could be relevant in our endeavours to ensure our park includes a wide range of interest groups e.g.people with dogs, children and young people, families, sports groups, wildlife enthusiasts, gardeners. They can represent the broad views of other park users.
  • Campaigning: Parks throughout the country have suffered for many years from reduced budgets and investment. There are even examples where councils have 'sold off' parts of parks. Friends groups can campaign within their community and beyond to raise awareness of threats to parks.
NETWORKING FOR FRIENDS GROUPS - Here are a few networks:
  • Lewisham Green Spaces Forum provides opportunities for Friends of Parks representatives within the borough to share their concerns about their parks and to shout about their achievements so their parks can be the best they can be.  Lewisham forum members arrange meetings with senior managers at Greenscene - the parks department. Members communicate by email and WhatsApp. Such communications enable the groups to share information.
  • London Friends of Greenspaces Network (LFGN) is a London-wide network providing support and advice to groups campaigning on specific issues. It also provides a regular e-newsletter. Check out their website on www.lfgn.org.uk 
  • The National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces  is the national umbrella  organisation to support Friends groups and help with campaigns. Some years ago theyr produced an informative resource, still available, called 'Let's be Friends'. Visit their website, click on Resources and scroll down to 'Let's be Friends' (pdf). https://natfedparks.org.uk
In urban Sydenham we are fortunate to have lovely green spaces. The important role played by Friends groups in ensuring quality care should not be underestimated. If you have a park that you enjoy visiting then support your local Friends of Park group.No such group? Then get together with other park users and start one.
Park view
Tree cover

Sunday 18 February 2024

Orchard fruit tree pruning workshops early 2024

We held FOUR fruit tree pruning workshops in the Mayow Park orchard starting end of January and with our last session on 10th Feb 2024. Why four? A number of people asked to take part and we chose dates to accommodate them. This gave us small working groups so we got to share our skills and  knowledge. Some people had no previous pruning experience and others had a lot. Some people were surprised to learn that it is best to prune stone fruit (cherries, plums etc) in summer as winter pruning can make them more susceptible to silver leaf fungal infections. All sessions were led by Alona.

We started by looking at tools, how we use them safely and tool care; anvil and bypass secateurs, telescopic fruit tree pruners, loppers, saws.  We shared info on hygiene when pruning and why mulching our trees is a good idea. 

We looked closely at some of the trees to check for 3 Ds (dead, damaged, diseased), and 2 Cs (crossing and crowded), talking about which branches to prune and why. Then we got to work, in pairs and under supervision. 

We were lucky with the weather on all four sessions;  despite rain being a daily occurrence we had two dry hours each time. Thank you everyone who came along and joined in.

Susan and Janet

Yogi and Sue

Alex with secateurs

Mike and Sue with a vigorous perry pear

Claudia and Millie with the Core Blimey

Alona with a long-handled pruner

Frank doing formative pruning on the Red Windsor


Jean at work on Conference pear

AS Feb 2024

Tuesday 2 January 2024

FEEDBACK ON NEW PLAYGROUND

On the Friends of Mayow Park Facebook group in recent days there have been a number comments, those in praise of the new facilities and those raising concerns  about what some see as a fail.  Such opposite views are bound to happen as parents recall the previous facilities and decide in their minds what they would have chosen. 

There were several playground improvement consultations with park users over the six years from 2017  when parents started campaigning for better facilities: Consultations reached a couple of hundred respondents each time but could  never reach all those people who visit Mayow Park with children. 

A small handful of volunteers researched play equipment and play providers.One applied for funding sources with some success but not as much as they would have liked. Lewisham's parks department (the landowners) approved the campaign. When sufficient funds had been achieved, the plans went out to tender to find a firm to build the playground. This work was overseen by Glendale, the contractors who manage many of Lewisham's parks. The play provider Kompan  won the tender to build the new facilities and used the outcome of the consultations to design the space within the available budget.

For those parents who are disappointed with the new facilities, it would be good to hold a special meeting to hear all opinions and see what additional improvements can be achieved. Such a meeting must be led by the interested parents, in the same way as the playground improvements project was led by parents. Concerns from these parents include apparent lack of facilities for the youngest children, not enough facilities for children with disabilities, more benches for parents and 'why mend what ain't broke'.  Benches were integral to the plans but  funds did not stretch far enough so further fundraising is needed. These and other concerns plus the many positive comments would be on the Agenda if such a special meeting could be convened.

Who wants to find any parents with appropriate skills to pull such a meeting together, inviting various people -  parents, Council officers and park contractors as well as those with previous experience of playground improvement projects. Some of the original plans have not been included in the final design due to funding limits, so there may still be opportunities for further improvements and further fundraising. 

Saturday 23 December 2023

MAYOW PARK PLAYGROUND is open

 In time for the school holidays, the newly rebuilt playground in Mayow Park is open.  Well done to the people from Kompan, the company that won the tender to rebuild. Thanks go to Glendale, the contractor that manages the park on behalf of London Borough of Lewisham.  Thank you to Lewisham's parks department for agreeing to this project. And let's remember that the project would never have got off the ground without the tenacity and determination of Friends of Mayow Park (FOMP). 

FOMP volunteers with young children started a consultation process SIX years ago with other parents. This led to research into most suitable (but not necessarily cheapest) equipment to meet the needs of children - different ages, different physical and different learning needs.  We visited other parks. We looked at equipment from different play providers. One parent offered to work on funding applications - she had a vested interest as she lives nearby and wanted equipment for her children. The pandemic put plans on hold for two years . . . 

We look forward to feedback from  those older children who have waited patiently for this positive outcome.. 

Toddlers up to 11 year olds will be able to climb, slide, spin, balance, explore, create imaginary stories and become pretend characters as they play in and among the new equipment.  

There are still  things to sort out  including a few metres of missing fencing along the back where a tree fell, A bench will be added in time, which will be paid for and donated by Friends of Mayow Park. 

Hopefully other issues that may arise will be small and easily sorted. 

PHOTOS: Note that the four 'mushrooms', the spinner and the circus box office have been retained.

the mushrooms have been kept

The circus box office is still there

And here are a few more photos.





Thursday 7 December 2023

Latest playground progress photos

 Photos taken on Thursday 7th December 2023 - equipment installation has started. The photos say it all - the playground is beginning to take shape.