Author: Pax Barnard

It has been proposed to close the Presto Park train station ticket office. If you would like to oppose this, please leave comments at this email address: ticketoffice.GTR@transportfocus.org.uk

Simeon Elliot has a huge wealth of knowledge in relation to birds and their habitats. As Brighton & Hove’s largest park, you would think Preston Park should have a huge array of bird species. So why not join us and find out what the park has to offer? Donations will be requested at the end of the walk.

The walk will take place on Friday 14 July at 9.00-10.30am. Click here to sign up on Eventbrite.

Renowned elm tree expert Peter Bourne is available once again to provide an insight into our huge elm collection.

The walk will take place on Sunday 9th July at 11.00 – 12.30 starting at the Chalet Café.

Sign up on our Eventbrite page here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/elm-tree-walk-with-peter-bourne-tickets-660450002737?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Visitors to the Rose Garden may have noticed that there is now a fence at the northern and southern ends of the garden. This is to try and protect the roses that have been crushed by people making paths through the rose beds and letting their dogs run through them.

The Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) have been crowdfunding for new roses to fill these gaps and people have generously donated money towards this. Therefore, we have been working with CityParks to find a solution so that the new roses would stand more of a chance of survival.

Reusing panelling from other areas of the park, we have found a cheaper solution to try and protect the garden. We are grateful to Cityparks and particularly manager, James Harding for help in making this happen. The fence will be painted in due course.

Whilst the fence doesn’t cut the roses off to the public, it is hoped that those who only want to walk through, will now be channelled to the paths. Those who still wish to smell the roses, can still do so. The new roses will be planted at a later stage and signage explaining the various rose types will also be placed near the fenced areas.

We hope everyone will enjoy the revamp and that dog walkers will respectfully continue to put their dogs on leads whilst walking though the Rose Garden area.

The Brighton & Hove Food Partnership are crowdfunding to replace and repair old wooden structures in the much-loved community garden in Preston Park. For further details including how to donate, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/preston-park-community-garden-crowdfund

Please see details below if you are interested in joining The International Elm Society

Head Gardener, Andy Jeavons gave yet another of his spectacular walks in The Rockery this week.

Having worked for CityParks for the last twenty-three years, and having trained as an apprentice at Stanmer Park, yonks ago, Andy has a wealth of plant knowledge to share with anyone who wants to listen.

Leading the walk around The Rockery, Andy not only explained about the planting, but gave a simple history lesson on how The Rockery came into being including how those huge rocks got there! It was a beautiful evening and I think the fish and the lone terrapin enjoyed an extra feed.

Thank you to everyone who came and for your generous donations.

Our next walk will be the elm tree walk with Peter Bourne on 9 July. Anyone wishing to attend, please sign up on Eventbrite through the Friends of Preston Park website. 

Volunteers are needed for a one-off gardening session in the Rose Garden on Saturday, 15 July, 12.00 until 15.00.

Meet at The Rockery, gardener’s shed to collect tools. Please bring your own gloves and snacks.

Please contact us at info@friendsofprestonpark.org if you need further information. 

The Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) enjoyed another informative and fabulous history walk in the park this week given by former FoPP Chair, Sue Shepherd. Sue has great knowledge of the park and of what was in this area before, including the Romans! Sue has thoroughly researched the Preston area and has collated some very interesting and often at times, odd and funny facts; the underground square of land identified as a pond to test tanks in during World War II for one, and that during a baseball match between Canadian soldiers and Brits, the entire stock of chewing gum in the country was said to be bought up for the occasion! The Rockery once had possible Roman slave quarters and did you know, the large rocks that currently form the garden were rolled off a train from the railway at the top and a man was installed at the bottom to stop them crashing into traffic on the Preston Road! Poor man! 

Thank you to all those people who came to listen and to those who donated money towards FoPP funds. Don’t forget our next event is on 29 June, 18.00 – 19.30. Andy Jeavons will be giving one of his amazing talk and walks around The Rockery. If you are interested, please sign up through our Eventbrite app on the website. 

As Head Gardener, Andy Jeavons possesses a wealth of knowledge about all the plants in Preston Park, and in particular, The Rockery, having worked there for a considerable number of years. Come along and hear about the mass of plant variety in the garden. We advise that the paths in The Rockery can be slippery, uneven and steep, so please wear walking or sensible shoes. Donations will be requested at the end.

The walk will take place on Thursday 29th June at 6.00pm.

Click here to sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rockery-walk-with-andy-jeavons-tickets-647304353747