Friends of Preston Park

The event at the velodrome went very well and everyone seemed pleased with the final result. Many people brought picnics and there were crafts for the children. It is hoped money will soon be raised to paint the steps and containers.

Thank you to everyone who took part to create this exciting new artwork for Preston Park.

Kerry Pickett, of Friends of Preston Park, attended the We Love Trees event held to thank all the volunteers who help in Brighton & Hove’s green spaces. Caroline Lucas was there to thank everyone as well as Paul Campbell of Brighton & Hove City Council and local tree expert Peter Bourne. The food was amazing and it was a great opportunity to meet and network with other volunteers and experts.

For anyone who has missed our first two Tree Walks, led by local tree expert Peter Bourne, we will running a third event on September 25th at 11 am. Register here.

You are again warmly invited to join us in the park on Sunday October 9, from 10-1, to create your own artwork using a medium of your choice – pencils, coloured pencils, paint, pastels, ink, collage, mixed media or any other. It will be a great day to meet other people with an artistic temperament and to share experience and knowledge.

The event is restricted to those aged 16 and over. All abilities are welcome, including complete beginners.

Meet for a short briefing at the Chalet Cafe at 10.00 am. Don’t forget to bring your own art materials and, ideally, something to sit on (we do have some chairs, if you have nothing suitable). You can then choose any location in the park to create your artwork, with consideration, of course, for other park users. Preston Park has many places where you can find interesting subject matter.

Meet back at the rockery at 13.00 pm to share your work with your colleagues.

Any artwork you create does remain your property but we ask your consent to take a photograph. We will share these online and exhibit them at the Chalet Cafe in the Park.

Register for this event

With the Preston Park Tree-sure Hunt you use a map to search out some of the amazing trees in Preston Park. Discover their uses and try the activities!

The trees are marked with a varying number of Goldfinches to guide you (and for you to count).

Available now at Wigwam Toys and the Chalet Cafe. Only £2 which includes the map, a pencil, book mark, and a secret prize! It is aimed at children but all ages (even those in their 80s) have given it a go.

https://superwildnature.co.uk/prestonpark/

We’ve just set up an Instagram account so you don’t have to wait to see all the fabulous images and videos of the park that come our way.

Follow us on Instagram

In case you’re not already following us on Facebook, here’s the link:

Friends of Preston Park on Facebook

You will be proud to hear that Preston Park has been recognised with another Green Flag Award for the coming year! This is recognition of a well-run park, used and supported by the local community and with an active friends group.

Well done to all those associated with making the park such a well-loved asset to the city.

While the recent rain is most welcome after weeks of drought, we will need much more rain to get back to previous levels. You may not know that the Wellesbourne River runs north-south about 35 metres under Preston Park, and pumps are in place around the park so it can be used to water the trees and flower beds, such as the Rose Garden. As this river is not mains water, it’s not subject to hosepipe bans, and keeps the soil moist deep down to the benefit of the larger trees during drought conditions. In addition, CityParks staff have been watering without fail, twice a week, recently planted trees including those in our cherry blossom walk and the fruit trees, usually early in the morning before most people are about.

A big thank you to them for their hard work.