Past Events

2026

Bat Walk, October 2026

The Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) would like to once again thank Huw Morgan from the Sussex Wildlife Trust for providing us with his insight into the lives of our local bat population in Preston Park.

Starting the walk at St Peter’s church near Preston Manor, we were able to track the paths of Pipistrelle bats and monitor their social vocalisations and echolocation clicks with special bat detectors. It was amusing to learn that the funny squishing sound heard at the end of each vocalisation was the bat eating an insect. It’s good to know that they are feeding well. These bats are due to start mating shortly. Once pregnant, the females will delay pregnancy until spring when there is once again more food available.

We are hoping that we will have another bat walk in place then and we can get some further insight into the new baby bats. So keep an eye on our calendar as there is only space for around 15 people.

Our next event is our popular History Walk with former FoPP Chair, Sue Shepherd. Starting at the Rotunda Cafe at 14.30-16.00, on Sunday 4 October, Sue will regale you with stories of Romans, tanks and all things unexpected for Preston Park. So please book a ticket through the website.Please note the walk will take a route around the park off the pathways so it may be a little difficult for wheelchair users.

Tree Walk 12 July

On a sunny and very hot afternoon around ten people were led by Alister Peters, expert arborist, on a very interesting and enjoyable walk to look at many of the different trees in Preston Park. We started at the northeast corner of the Rose Garden by a tall elm and green and purple beeches. The chalky soil and salty air of Brighton do not provide conditions in which many native trees will thrive, the notable exceptions being elms and sycamores, both of which were planted by the Victorians throughout the city.

Just north of the Rose Garden a clump of trees includes a purple-leafed plum. It flowers in late January and is a good choice for smaller gardens. Nearby is an acacia, a tree that bees love, and a black mulberry that was already producing fruit. We stopped to look at a common walnut and a black walnut, and a sweetgum that is beautiful in the autumn when its leaves turn red and purple. 

Approaching the Chalet Café we came to a very large elm that is only 50 years old. It is one of the numerous different types of elm in the park, some of which have been bred to be resistant to the elm disease that has been decimating elms in the UK since the 1970s. Many trees have been destroyed in Preston Park but the surviving trees can now be vaccinated every April/May.

Among other trees of interest on our walk were a silver pendant lime and a plane tree. The latter is a tree that can grow to a height of well over 135 feet and, very unusually, can cope with temperatures of up to 45 degrees centigrade.  The park also has a few of the approximately 800 varieties of oak tree, including the Turkey (which thrives on chalk) and Hungarian, and one English.

Our walk ended at the black mulberry tree in the Walled Garden, soon to be laden with berries like its companion near the start of our walk.

Brighton Miles, Saturday 11 April 2026

Great Preston Park Spring Clean, 21 March 2026

FoPP joined forces with the Brighton & Hove City Council Tidy Up Team for another litter pick that saw over 35 bags of rubbish collected, including a couple of children’s bicycles and some abandoned pipe! Thank you to Council officer, Garry Meyer for getting the Tidy Up Team involved. If residents are interested in joining the Tidy Up Team, they can sign up via the Council website.

Additionally, FoPP organised a path clearance day this week, and volunteers did a sterling job of clearing the steps in between the old bowling greens and litter picking around the recycling bins near the Rose Garden.

FoPP Litter Pick, 21-22 February 2026

FoPP volunteers braved the super wet weather this weekend for a very successful litter pick in Preston Park. Over 10 bags of rubbish were cleared! Well done to everyone who came. Your efforts are hugely appreciated.

2025