Author: Pax Barnard

See below sessions

As of Tuesday 7 June, the top area of Preston Park know as The Ride and car park will be resurfaced. It is envisaged that the work will take approximately 3 weeks.

However, the bottom car parking area will remain open during this time and residents are advised to use this area to park instead. This is very welcome news as the holes have become quite large recently.

If anyone has any questions please contact Brighton & Hove City Council.

Come and soak in the magic of nature’s song!

From Sunday 5 – Sunday 12 May, Bird Bath invites you to pause, rest and ‘bathe’ in the sound of local birdsong at St Peter’s Church in Preston Park, Brighton.

Part of @sussexuni Festival of Ideas at @BrightonFestival 2024.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/birdbath2024

Due to a mixup with the time last week, we have decided to rerun the bird walk with Simeon Elliot on Sunday 28 April. For all those who bought tickets but couldn’t join, please turn up at 8.30 at the Chalet Café. For anyone who hasn’t bought tickets, please come along – the cost of the walk is £3. Please bring cash and pay it to the FoPP member running the event.

If the weather is very bad, the event will be cancelled via the website, so please keep an eye on it. Parts of the walk will be uneven so please bear in mind when considering accessibility (wheelchairs should be okay).

Those residents who signed up to this year’s bird walk were lucky to get some fairly nice weather this week. Simeon Elliot kindly gave up his time to come and explain to those unsure of birdsong and what bird is what, to explain what we were listening to. Simeon was able to point out the various birds we are fortunate to have in our urban park area despite the noise of park users and traffic. There was the usual array of pigeons and seagulls, as well as blue tits, dunnocks, black birds, wrens and robins. Some, we only heard and some, we were lucky to see as well.  They were all mostly in full song and we were, I think, incredibly lucky to see and hear a beautiful spotted woodpecker. As well as birds, Simeon is also knowledgeable about lichens, mosses and liverworts. Using hand lenses, we were able to view some amazing tree epiphytes. The truly looked like underwater corals! For those who missed the walk due to a time mix up, please keep an eye on the FoPP website and we will try and fit another bird walk in in April.

Our next event will be the Brighton & Hove Tree Trail: 12-12 & 18-19 May. Followed by the elm tree walk with Peter Bourne on 19 May. Please sign up via Eventbrite.

Work on the much anticipated (it was agreed 3 years ago) Changing Places Toilet Block in Preston Park, has started. The toilet will be situated at the back of the Rotunda Café and will provide better access for people with disabilities and accessibility concerns.

A new pathway is being laid, and unfortunately two Mulberry trees have had to be relocated. Hopefully they will survive, but the Council will replace them in the event they do not. The Brighton Permaculture Trust carefully removed them and relocated them to an area nearby. They will be monitored to ensure their survival. 

It has been noted that the toilet block is modular, and therefore cannot be modified beforehand, however, it was agreed that the needs of some of the city’s residents would be met with its inclusion in the park. At least one bee brick will also be incorporated within the external wall in line with building regulations to encourage biodiversity. We also hope to plant around the area.

Current work entails: 

Sectioning of the work area

Installation of Heras fencing

Preparing the groundwork for the foundation slab to be laid (machinery including diggers on site).

It is anticipated that the groundworks including pathways, foundation slab, and drainage works will last approximately 4 weeks. Works on the pre-fab building will commence once approval from planning on the external materials has been granted – this date is still yet to be finalised. It is envisaged that works are currently due to be completed by the end of June.

A petition has been created to keep Brighton & Hove’s streets free of toxic weedkiller, feel free to share with your neighbours and friends.

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/ask-to-keep-your-street-free-of-harmful-glyphosate

Please see the poster to find out when we held our events in 2024. Our events for 2025 will be posted shortly.

Join us in March for 2 exciting events, available to book now on Eventbrite!

Cherry Blossom Tree Picnic – Sunday 24 March at 11.30 – 13.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cherry-blossom-tree-picnic-tickets-853001850497

Bird Walk with Simeon Elliot – Sunday 31 March at 8.30 – 10.30
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bird-walk-with-simeon-elliot-tickets-854454134317

For more details on the FoPP events planned for the rest of the year, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/friends-of-preston-park-66223813283