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A message from Harvest:

The first year of our demonstration vegetable garden was a great success and we’d like to thank all the local residents and park users who have expressed their interest and support for the project!

This year we will be expanding the garden to double its current size so we can demonstrate even more ways that you can grow your own – in whatever space you have available.
We are now seeking volunteers who can help with the expansion of the garden. We had a great team of volunteers in 2010 and this year we hope more people will join us to help expand the garden, maintain it and take home some of the harvest!

We will be running open volunteer workdays throughout February and March. Tasks will include building and filling the new raised beds, paths and fencing. No previous experience of gardening or building is required.

For more information please contact us on harvest@bhfood.org.uk or 01273 431 700.

Harvest Demo Garden Leaflet 2011 (PDF, 232K)

Volunteer Role Description – Harvest Garden Volunteer 2011 (PDF, 143K)

As you may have seen in the Argus, Brighton Pride has been given the go-ahead for a fenced and ticketed event in the park on August 13. As Pride will know exactly how many tickets have been sold, the facilities (loos etc) within the area should be sufficient for the number of people. We don’t know yet how many tickets will go on sale. Each of the entrances to the area will be manned by security personnel who will ensure the entrant has a ticket and that no glass is taken into the area. There remains an unknown factor about how many people might turn up without a ticket and remain outside the fenced area. Pride is aware of this and will do what they can to prevent a build-up of people. They have assured us, for instance, that prominent ads displayed on the route to the park will make it plain that entry is only permitted with a ticket. In the meantime, Pride has asked the local residents to let them know where possible where anti-social trouble hot-spots may occur – from this information they intend to deploy security personnel. You can contact Pride via www.brightonpride.org where there is an opportunity to give your view.

Minutes of Public Meeting 29 01 11 (PDF, 65K)

On Wednesday 16th February from 10am, you have the opportunity to participate in laying a new hedge in Preston Park using traditional methods and tools. The work will be overseen by Park Ranger Gary Mayer. Meet near the childrens’ playground.

On December 15th, Tony Benton and Sue Shepherd of Friends of Preston Park met with representatives from Brighton Pride to discuss next year’s Pride event. Click on the link to see the minutes: MeetingBrightonPride (PDF)

This watercolour by Charles Knight on the Brighton’s Architecture site, shows Captain Bertie MacLaren’s never-realised grand scheme for Preston Park in the 1920s.

The next open public meeting of the Friends of Preston Park will take place on Tuesday 16th November in the Men’s Bowling Pavilion at 7pm. Download the agenda. All welcome.

Amy Kennedy, Green City Councillor for Preston Park Ward on Brighton & Hove City Council has emailed us to advise you of the following:

“… at last week’s Full Council meeting I handed in a petition bearing over 2,200 signatures on behalf of Francis at the Rotunda, calling for action on the parking situation in the park. In response to this, a working group is being set up to look at the problem.  I’ve asked that Friends of Preston Park be invited to join the group, and I’ll let you know when I have more details.”

John Padmore has provided this helpful leaflet to explain why we went to great trouble to ensure that all 17000 bluebells planted at last Saturday’s bluebell planting bonanza were English.