Author: Pax Barnard

Tickets cost £3 (wreath making £20) visit www.friendsofprestonpark.org/events/ to register and pay for tickets.

Stanford and Cleveland Garden are having a stall at Methodist Church Fair Saturday 29 March 10:30 till 2:00 selling some plants, cushions, bags, tool belts etc. to raise funds for the garden. Please come if you can.

Notice is hereby given that Brighton & Hove City Council will on the 07 April 2025 under Section 35C of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“The 1984 Act”), change parking
charges in City Parks including Preston Park

Brighton & Hove City Council have organised the next meeting to provide space for questions, feedback and input into events taking place in Preston Park on Tuesday 22nd April 5 -7pm at The Park View pub, Basement Bar All residents keen to join in and ask questions are invited to attend.

Many thanks to Andy Jeavons and his team for planting the replacement cherry trees that were vandalised last year. The new trees are the same variety and size as the others and will not be noticeable as new trees. The 5 vandalised trees will be replanted shortly in front of the Chalet Café as they will continue to grow, albeit in a stunted form.

Thank you to everyone who donated to buy the new trees. This was much appreciated.

Volunteers planted 100 roses yesterday. Thank you to all, it was jolly hard work, pushing wheelbarrows and digging clay. On Friday 14 February, our Ranger will bring his team, please come and join them (10-1pm). 65 more roses to plant! 🌱

Through the power of the sun and with the support of BHESCo (Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-operative), homes in Preston Park could soon be generating their own clean energy with no upfront cost to residents.

Find out more about Preston Park Community Energy Project at https://www.prestonparkcommunityenergy.org

The arb team are planning to prune the Preston Twin on 6^th Feb. They will be reducing the canopy and thinning to reduce the weight and stress on the fragile stem of the tree. This elm continues to grow very vigorously, which is a good sign, however they do need to make sure the canopy is kept compact to prevent the tree splitting apart in the wind. Therefore, do not be alarmed if you see the tree being trimmed. 

The ‘twin’ will look smaller and less natural in the short term but will come back with new growth quickly. 

Divide into two teams.

If 3 players: play against 3 players and each player uses 2 boules.

If 2 players: play against 2 players or 1 player plays against 1 and each player uses 3 boules.

If you have an uneven number of players in each team, each team should have the same number of boules.

Mark out a circle no more than 50cm in diameter.

Toss a coin to decide which team is first to throw the jack and which team is to throw the first boule.

Throw the jack 6-10 metres away from the circle.

Players stand within the circle to throw their boules and remain within the circle until the boule lands. The aim is to get your boule as close to the jack as possible. This can include hitting an opponent’s boule out of the way.

The team with the boule closest to the jack wins the round (called an end) and scores 1 point. They also score 1 point for each boule that’s closer to the jack than their opponents’ closest boule.

The first boule is thrown by a player belonging to the team that has won the draw or has been the last to score. After that, it is the team that does not hold the point that plays. The winner of the end (round) plays first in the next game/end starting from the jack’s finishing position in the previous end.

Games are usually played to 13 points.

The official rules are available here.

If you are interested in joining the Preston Park pétanque group, please contact prestonparkpetanque@gmail.com