Friends of Preston Park

The Friends of Preston Park are joining forces with the local Green Party to litter pick Preston Park and the surrounding area on 1 June, 11- 2, meeting outside the Park View pub! Please come along to help. Bring gloves!

We are aware that the FoPP community book swap box has sadly been damaged and we are looking into solutions as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone who has messaged about it.

Huge thanks to Huw Morgan of Sussex Wildlife Trust for leading this really enjoyable walk at dusk in the northwest corner of the park.

We gathered in front of St Peter’s Church under a bright sliver of a new crescent moon. The hottest day of the year so far. The perfect setting.

Almost immediately on switching on our bat detection devices we were treated to the sounds and sight of a Pipistrelle bat flying above our heads and across the graveyard.

Huw explained how the bats have recently ventured out from hibernation and are currently looking for mates. May is the popular month for pregnancies to “commence”. Their flight can be erratic as they feed voraciously on the abundance of flying insects, such as midges, with some larger bats also hunting moths.

We headed through the lawns and walled garden of Preston Manor tuned into the echolocation frequency (45 kHz) of Pipistrelles, the UK’s most common species of bat UK.

Then as we emerged into the park the skilful eye of Huw spotted a larger, less common species, the Noctule, in the trees near our famous statue.

A resetting of our devices to 25 kHz and we were treated to the wonderful experience of a Noctule bat flitting just above our heads whilst hearing the loud knocking noises on our devices of its sonar signals.

The group continued to enjoy the experience as we wandered back the graveyard with the darkness descending. Another successful batwalk shared.

Gardening volunteers from various city friends groups spent a day out at Wakehurst this week. The day was organised by Wakehurst with activities laid on and opportunities for the group to explore the wonderful gardens. Volunteers had the best time and it was such a bonus to have lovely weather to enjoy forest bathing, mindfulness walking, and strolling around the grounds in the spring sunshine taking in the magnificent rhododendrons in full bloom whilst listening to birdsong.

The visit to the millennial seed bank was also really special and informative. The food at the stables restaurant was superb as were the cakes at the visitor centre cafe. In all a marvellous opportunity for all our lovely volunteers to have a day out together in nature.

Thank you once again to Wakehurst for this opportunity.The free days at Wakehurst continue tomorrow 25th April and Saturday 3rd May. Open to anyone.

Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) joined in with the festivities to celebrate the reopening of Preston Manor to the general public after a closure of 5 years. Whilst the house was open to for paid viewing, local councillors and Siân Berry MP for Brighton Pavilion, were invited to a special reception and guided tour. This included an exceptional display of an eighteenth-century clock that was stolen from the manor in 2001, but was discovered last year at an auction and returned to the manor. As part of the display the clock was wound up and painted sailing ships could be seen sailing across the front of the clock as it chimed. If you haven’t yet been to the manor house, it really is the time now for a visit.

Outside in the grounds was just as magical. There were many gazebos set up to deliver free fun activities for the many children who came along with their parents. There really were toddlers toddling everywhere! Old fashioned games were being played across the lawn as well as crafts, hunt the easter egg and much more! Staff were dressed in Edwardian costume and there was live but subtle music played. Café Rust has now opened a new café in the manor, and it must be doing something right as it sold out of food! A new staircase at the back of the manor has been built so that customers can access the café from the back of the manor.

Over in the FoPP tent, we were entertaining with a mix of colouring a fun fact booklet, potting a sunflower seedling and a small array of plants for sale. We were of course also trying to get some new members onboard as well some new gardening volunteers. Anyone interested should contact us via the website.

Additionally, we too have a few entertaining events on in the park this year. Please access these through the website where you will also be able to sign up to attend

Our upcoming Bat Walk has officially SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who booked – it’s going to be a fantastic evening. If you missed out, don’t worry we have more exciting events on the way!

Be sure to book early, as spots fill up fast.All events take place right here in beautiful Preston Park-stay tuned for what’s next!

The Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) had fun this week taking part in the Brighton Miles event set up in Preston Park as part of the Brighton Marathon weekend. Amongst the stalls to entertain the many children taking part, the FoPP had a stall encouraging younger participants to come and plant a sunflower seedling. The stall was very popular, and we took advantage of the presence of their attendant guardians to advertise what the FoPP does, encourage further free membership and to whip up anyone interested in joining our ever growing team of volunteer gardeners.. Further to this we made a small amount selling plants.

If you are interested in joining the FoPP or seeing what we are up to, please look us up on our website: www.friendsofprestonpark.org

We also have our events page where you can sign up and pay if you wish to attend. All money made or donated is used for the benefit of the park and park users.
Coming up on Saturday, 12th April is the Easter at Preston Manor event. FoPP will also have a stall at this event which is aimed at encouraging people to come along and sample the delights of the manor house after its long closure to the general public. There will be lots of free activities for children to enjoy.