Each year the Rotary Club launches the Purple Crocus Corm planting to raise awareness of the Rotary fight for a polio free world. The springtime gorgeous displays of purple crocus corms remind us of the need to eradicate the life threatening and disabling polio virus.
Two million purple corms are available nationwide and you will see many volunteers planting them throughout Brighton and Hove green spaces in October. The first ones were planted by CityParks rangers and volunteers on Friday in St Ann’s Well and by Patcham roundabout. Friends of Preston Park are delighted to take part in this wonderful campaign by planting 8 000 bulbs on the south side of the park and by the Rotunda Cafe.
The crocus corm variety this year is Crocus tommasinianus – Ruby Giant (deep purple).
When a child receives their life-saving polio drops on mass polio immunisation days, their little finger is painted with a purple dye, so it is clear they have received their polio vaccine- hence the crocus connection.
Please donate today to protect a child. Every donation to the Rotary Club will be trebled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, so every £1 will become £3.
You may have noticed that over the last eighteen months the Rotunda Pond looked neglected and overgrown. A lot of debris and rotting vegetation turned the water cloudy and unhealthy, with the surface covered by invasive duckweed. Leaks have made it necessary to top up the water constantly.
Fortunately work has commenced on the pond as this is the right time of year to do so as the amphibian life are now in the rose beds. The debris and dead and decaying vegetation have been removed and next step is to repair the pond liner, by identifying leaks and draining where necessary. The work should be completed in time for spring.
The Petanque Court
The Petanque Court, sandwiched between the Tennis Courts and the new Outdoor Gym, is growing in popularity with local residents and U3a players. It is a very social sport which encourages interaction with others, teamwork, strategy, competition and is a lot of fun. The Court at Preston Park needs resurfacing as it is quite uneven and shows wear, having lost some of its surface sand. Sadly most of the damage is caused by people using the court for cycling when we have our own velodrome.
A new group of volunteers, the Preston Park Petanque Group, has been set up to undertake the renovation of the court. This involves weeding, edging, filling the depressions with limestone and fine gravel, raking and compacting the new material to create a firm, playable surface. The general and ongoing maintenance will involve cleaning, levelling and re-gravelling when necessary to keep the court in good condition.
If you would like more information about the Petanque Court or would be interested in volunteering or just finding people with whom to play please email at info@friendsofprestonpark.org
Please be reminded that our AGM will be taking place on Friday 15 November at 5-7.30pm at St Peter Cricket Club. Steve Geliot, who initiated the “Save our Starlings” campaign, will be giving a presentation on Brighton starling population. Tea and cakes will be available.
