CityParks Volunteer Picnic at Waterhall

Volunteers looking after green spaces in Brighton and Hove were invited by their Rangers at Waterhall to meet Paul Gorringe, who is in charge of the local rewilding programme. 

Waterhall was a golf course for seventy years and over the past four years the aim has been to restore the chalk grassland and improve habitats for multiple species. This project has been funded by National Lottery money and is led by the National Trust. No power tools are used, no pesticides, the work is done following the precepts of organic gardening. Multi-species grazing is done by twenty Sussex Red cattle, seven wild ponies and sheep are also brought in. Rangers Paul and Mike are helped by zealous volunteers who cut, clear, restore and encourage natural processes for the landscape to recover and reconnect with itself.

We looked at a large variety of moths collected (and released), wildflowers and ant hills. Paul and Mike run educational programmes for school children and are very keen to educate and show the importance of wild spaces in our lives. On this note we were reminded that we should keep our dogs on lead during the breeding season which runs from beginning of March to end of July as dogs run into thickets and bushes and disturb nesting and young wildlife. From a thousand dogs a day visiting Waterhall four years ago, numbers are down to two-hundred-and-fifty a day. Paul explained various reasons why dogs’ behaviour should be monitored by their owners, such as the presence of cattle, school children, wildlife habitat and even the preservation of the ph of the soil which is altered by dogs’urine and excrement! As Paul said, most dog owners are obliging, but some abuse the Rangers or take signage down, not considering that this rewilding project is very fragile and reliant on everybody’s decent behaviour to be a truly successful story and a legacy for future generations.

Paul Gorringe is always looking for new volunteers so if you would like to know more about volunteering at Waterhall please get in touch with him at wildingwaterhall@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Friends of Preston Park next walk is the General Tree Walk with Alister Peters on Saturday 9 August, 13:00-14:30, starting at the Rotunda Cafe. Not to be missed! Book now on our website.

If you are keen to try some gardening in Preston Park we welcome volunteers on Tuesdays 10 to 1pm in the Rose Garden or on Thursdays 10 to 1pm in the Rockery. Please come along and meet the teams.

Replanting the cherry trees

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!

June Newsletter

15 Years for FoPP and the Big Brighton Cake Bake

To mark the 15th anniversary of Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) a Big Brighton Cake Bake was organised on June 8th. Celebrating the first of this free and fun event participants were required to bring a homemade cake and over 50 were displayed, showing extreme creative and imaginative designs, with influences from the Middle East to Italy and Britain. Pistachio, walnuts, saffron, pineapple, strawberries, apples, caramel, chocolate, every flavour one could dream of was there to share and enjoy and all the bakers did themselves proud. A small competition was held to judge for ‘Most Brighton Cake’,’ Most Creative Cake’ and ‘Most Elegant Cake and the winners were very worthy. However, it was felt that next time we should add some more categories as the standard and quality was so high. Participants were able to share the cakes amongst themselves and there was still plenty to take home after. Sue Shepherd, who launched the Friends’ Group fifteen years ago, talked about our achievements in the Park, and was echoed by Kerry Pickett, current co-chair of FoPP alongside Isabelle Martin, who talked about our present commitment and challenges in 2025. We thank everyone who came along to help on the day to set up and clear up and a big thank you to Fitnesshub for letting us use their outdoor space! Much appreciated.  

Sussex Community NHS Foundation

We need to send out a big thank you to the finance section of the Sussex Community NHS Foundation who came along last month to spend the morning helping to weed and deadhead the roses in the Rose Garden. As part of their team building/company day out, the group gave up their time to attack the bindweed and help prepare the roses for an anticipated second round of blooms this summer. Having groups give up their time even for one day in the year makes a huge difference to the work in the garden so if you know of other companies who might be interested please get them to contact us at: info@friendsofprestonpark.com

SSEiB – Rose Garden

For the second year running The Rose Garden was entered for the South and Southeast in Bloom Award. Having won Level 4 last year, we hope to achieve the top level, Level 5, in 2025. For this purpose, the volunteers followed a course on pruning, replanted over 200 roses, fertilised all roses, and followed David Austin Roses, the rose grower’s instructions on deadheading and weeded the rose beds. With the dry and hot weather, we’ve experienced it had been necessary to water the roses weekly and fortunately the pump is working so we can use the water from the Wellesbourne river which runs under the Park.

Visitors may have noticed the east and west herbaceous borders, which have been replanted and looked after by two very keen and knowledgeable volunteers. Most of the plants you see in the borders have been grown from seeds by volunteers and we welcome any gift of plants if you have any to spare.

We are grateful to our City Parks Ranger, Neil Doyle, who came along on several occasions this year with his fantastic team of volunteers to clear the paths, weed the rose beds and tackle the bindweed in the outer hedge. Some of this work was also achieved with the help of volunteers joining Neil again from companies using the opportunity to help us with a team building day out. Neil’s group removed invasive plants from the edges round the Rose Garden and tackled the bramble and ivy in the Coronation Garden as well as clearing the paths of dead leaves and weeds, making it safer.

We are always looking for more volunteers and welcome anyone who would like to help us in the Park. Our volunteer sessions are in the morning on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. For more information, please check out our website.

SSEiB – The Rockery

For the first time in many years The Rockery was also entered for the SSEIB award. With its colourful displays, enchanting trees and carp in the pond, The Rockery has hidden sections to discover if you can face climbing the winding rock path to the top. The Rockery is a continuous source of wonderment, entertainment and creativity for photographers and painters. SSEIB judging took place in June and the results will be announced in September. We wish both The Rockery and the Rose Garden the best of luck.

Petanque Court

We are pleased to see that the Petanque Court surface has been repaired and a fence put up thanks to the generosity of Edburton, the construction company employed by the council to construct the new road layout on Preston Road. As part of their community engagement programme, Edburton’s agreed to relay a new surface on the Petanque Court and added a fence to delineate the court better. It is hoped people will realise that it is an area for Petanque and not for football or cycling.  

Rose Garden Toolbox

FoPP would like to once again thank Pride for the donation that is allowing us to buy our own toolbox to keep our gardening tools and watering cans in. So far, we have had to rely on volunteers to keep FoPP tools at home and bring them weekly to the Park. The toolbox will be situated in the Rose Garden. Any donation of tools will be gladly received.

Community Book Swap Box

Our Rose Garden Community Book Swap Box suffered an act of vandalism in May. However, a local cabinet maker kindly offered to repair it and it has been filled with books once again. Please do not hesitate to leave books or take some. We are now investigating the purchase of a second book box to house children’s books. If anyone has an old bedside cabinet with a door that could be converted please can you send us an email at: info@friendsofprestonpark.org.uk

Rockery Walk

Our next exciting walk is The Rockery Walk with Andy Jeavons, Head Gardener, on July 10th, 18.00 -19:30,  followed by Alastair Peters’ General Tree Walk on August 9th, 13.00 -14:30, starting at the Rotunda Cafe. For both walks please visit the FoPP website  https://www.friendsofprestonpark.org/ to register and pay £3. You can also pay cash on the day of the walk. All the money is used to buy tools and plants for Preston Park.

BHCC Preston Park meetings

Dear Preston Park residents

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.

Rotunda Pond

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.

Rose Garden book box

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.