The Cherry tree that was vandalised earlier in the spring, only one week after planting, has been replaced. Whilst we realise this is not a good time to plant a young tree, the timing of receiving the replacement went awry. The tree is now in place and the snapped tree has joined the other vandalised trees near the Chalet Café. We aim to keep them all watered over the summer months and if anyone would like to help with this, can they contact FoPP via our website.
Many thanks to Kez and his team for all their help in getting the trees out and in the ground. Great work!
The next BHCC scheduled meetings for discussion of events taking place in Preston Park will be on:
Friday 18th July 5-7pm (Knoyle Hall: Preston Park) Friday 17th October 5-7pm (Knoyle Hall: Preston Park)
These will by chaired by Cllr Birgit Miller and take place in Knole Hall, Knoyle Road- this venue is fully accessible with free on street parking. All residents are welcome to attend.
We are looking forward to The Rockery Walk with Andy Jeavons on Thursday 10 July 6 – 8:30pm starting at the Gardener’s Shed in The Rockery. Remember to register for tickets.
The Rotunda Pond is suffering with a bit too much algae due to intense sunny weather. Therefore CityParks will be treating it with a natural enzyme. This will make the water a bit cloudy but this is temporary and nothing to worry about.
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.
