Author: Pax Barnard

The pond outside the Rotunda Café will be undergoing some essential maintenance. This will include rendering the base to stop water leaking out, clearing out vegetation, reinstating the brick floral beds & re-planting the vegetation. For the work to be completed the water supply will be switched off to allow the water level to drop down. All the removed vegetation will be stored on site to allow any amphibian life to move on safely into alternative winter habitats. The timing of this operation has been carefully considered in conjunction with ecologists and CityParks. It is hoped that all work will be complete before our amphibian friends begin their return to the pond. If you have further questions, please contact us through the FoPP website. Thank you.

Ex FoPP Chair, Sue Shepherd came along to Preston Park last week to meet many new and old residents, eager to hear what Sue knows about Preston Park before it even became the park we know and love! Did you know it was once called Brighton Park?

Starting off at the Rotunda Café Sue explained why the area became such a key and sort out place that people wanted to live in – it had a vital water source and was thought a good place to grow food.

Following on from amongst others, the Saxons, the Romans also made an appearance, but it wasn’t until the 18th and 19th centuries that the land that we now recognise, became more apparent. Walking around the park using old drawings, photos and even posters to re-imagine the people of old was very entertaining. Tales of chewing gum, polo ponies and tanks mingled with park refurbishment and women’s toilets show the diversity of the walk. Sue has quite a way of delivering this information and we hope everyone who came enjoyed themselves.

For anyone who missed it, we hope that Sue will return next year for another re-run. .The FoPP only have two more events this year, one of which is our wreathmaking on Saturday, 6 December. Please pay via our website and choose a slot to attend.

On Saturday, 13 December we have Candlelight Christmas Carols outside the Rotunda Café. Please sign up and a proportion of this money will be donated to a local charity.

Date and time: Friday 17 November at 5pm

Location: Knoyle Hall, BN16RB

Brighton & Hove City Council would like to hear your constructive feedback on events held in outdoor public spaces. Residents are welcome to join an open conversation about what the community would and wouldn’t like to see, and how events can work in harmony with the local area. This meeting continues discussions from previous sessions and provides another opportunity for people to share feedback, ideas, suggestions, or concerns.

Review & feedback from past events

• Pride in the Park (2 & 3 August)
• Magic of Thailand (16-17 August)

Upcoming events

• Coles fireworks (2 November)

New Outdoor Events Strategy

Q&As

Any other business

The Wild Flower Conservation Society in Stanmer Park are having a Wildflower Plant Sale on Sunday 12th October from 11am – 3pm.Now is a great time to plant wild flowers – the soil is still warm and it will give the plants a head-start for Spring 2026!They have a wide selection of plants for £2 each and limited supplies of yellow rattle seed which is only £2 for 1,000 seeds.

It has been a busy summer and you can read our news are on the website www.friendsofprestonpark.org.Our next walk in Preston Park will be the History Walk on Sunday 5th October, 14.30-16.00 with Sue Shepherd. Starting at the Rotunda Café. Anyone interested in coming along to hear more about the history of the park can sign and pay on the FoPP website: http://friendsofprestonpark.org Please note that although the walk is around the park, the land is not level and may be of some concern for wheelchair users.

Our very popular wreath making event takes place on Saturday 6th December, 9.00 to 15.00. To secure a place please sign and pay on the FoPP website: http://friendsofprestonpark.org. The day is divided in 45 minute slots to accommodate everyone so make sure you indicate which session you would like to do.

We are delighted to see that the Book Box in the Rose Garden is very much used by hundreds of visitors each week, but due to repeated acts of vandalism there are plans to move the book box inside the Rotunda Cafe, where it will be safe.

Brighton & Hove residents were given an insight into parks of old last week, when FoPP welcomed back former CityParks Operations Manager, Alan Griffiths. Now retired, Alan kindly came along to explain the many ways that Preston Park and other green spaces around the city were run, prior to becoming a unitary council. It was fascinating to hear about the many gardeners, trained by the council at its own facilities, used to be on hand in our various parks. Alan was also able to explain how many of the plants and trees, including roses, were grown at the council-run Stanmer nurseries and transplanted to the parks for seasonal display. Unfortunately, with the loss of these facilities, there is a lack of resources and trained gardeners to do this now. However, Alan was quick to point out that the Preston Park volunteers are doing a great job keeping things going alongside the remaining CityParks staff. He also noted that seasonal planting is no longer such a sustainable option in this day and age and changing weather patterns.

Another important job of former days for Alan and his fellow garderners, was to prepare the bowling greens, mowing them in the early morning in preparation for the busy day of bowls ahead. Straight lines were mowed, and the grass was cut to specifically short levels to keep the bowls moving. Now that the game has lost popularity, the old greens are finding new uses, and it is hoped that the flower meadow will return soon to delight residents as once before.

Alan also explained how the arboreal team work hard to check on all our trees within the park and elsewhere, making sure they are healthy and not posing a risk of injury whilst we enjoy basking in their shade.

Alongside our many elms, Preston Park has a great variety of tree species and Alan was keen to show us the very beautiful Acer Griseum that we have on within the triangle on the west side of the park just after the tennis courts. This paper-bark maple has an extraordinary colour and is worth checking out if you haven’t noticed it before.

Alan’s walks are great if you don’t know the history of the Brighton & Hove greens spaces too well, and he is keen to reminisce about his days learning the trade of expert gardener before he became a CityParks manager. We hope he will join us again next year, so if you missed it this time, don’t worry, there is always next year!

FoPP’s next walk will be with Sue Shepherd on 5 October. Sue will be giving us a history tour of the park so be prepared for a walk around. Although the park is fairly flat, please be aware that part of the walk will be across the grass so it may be a bit bumpy for wheelchair users.

We are looking forward to the FOPP Park Walk with Alan Griffiths on 11 September at 6pm

Please book your tickets here