We’re very pleased and relieved to hear that our Park Ranger’s job has been saved. Thank you to those who supported the retention of these vital roles, and to the council for listening to the objections and changing their position. Our Park Ranger, Emma Keane, works closely with committee members and provides a lot of support – especially at our events.
Work in the park
The southeast side of the park, by the Rose Garden, has had a massive haircut! This is to keep things neat and for ease of maintenance.
And the new railings have arrived to be fitted around the cycle track …
Volunteers and Rangers enhance wild pond
Check out this wonderful new addition to our wildlife pond area to the north of the park. Cliff, one of the churchyard volunteers, sent us this report and these pictures – thanks Cliff! And thanks to the Rangers and the volunteer groups involved.
Great collaboration between three community volunteer groups has resulted in a marvellous new woven Hazel fence being installed around the wildlife pond at the North end of the park. The St Peter’s churchyard group has recently expanded its boundaries to keep a watchful eye on the wildlife area. From this a link was forged with the Cityparks Rangers volunteers who were coppicing Hazel in Stanmer Park; and the idea to install a natural barrier around the pond was born.
On Thursday 15th January, with help from churchyard, walled garden and Cityparks Ranger volunteers, the pond itself was unclogged. Two islands of water plants being left surrounded by plenty of open water for our local wildlife. Following delivery of newly cut hazel coppice on Monday 18th January, work commenced on Thursday and Friday that week to construct the new fence. 27 posts were driven into the ground and 35 metres of hazel coppice woven around them. Many thanks to George and Neil Doyle from Cityparks whose organisational skills (and LandRover) were much appreciated.
Pics from our wreath making event
Our annual report
Below please find links to the Chairman’s and the Treasurer’s Annual Reports and the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting for the Friends of Preston Park for 2014-2015.
Another fabulous Halloween Lantern Walk!
Hundreds of people came to the event and children and adults alike were keen to show off their costumes and lanterns. Horrible beasties were banished from the park with a spectacular walk in the pitch dark with beautifully-made lanterns. It was breathtaking!
Laura Brett was a really effective storyteller and had children spellbound. Camper Vanatics provided scummy food and drink. Scary music and dry ice added to the atmosphere. There was a prize for best lantern and best costume – but every child was awarded a ‘winner’ medal!
Amazing what fun can be had for free!
Halloween lantern walk – this Saturday
Forthcoming events
Get your diary out . . . It’s getting towards that time again: the Halloween Lantern Walk will be on Saturday 31 October. The event will start at 6pm, but we’ll begin the walk at around 7pm. We’ll meet as usual at the men’s bowls pavilion. In case you haven’t been before, the event is for families – and children can enter the best home made lantern competition, and the best fancy-dress competition. There’ll be a modest prize for each! We’ve got Camper Vanatics coming who will sell bratwurst hot dogs and hot drinks, and we’ve arranged for a story-teller to come and amuse the children. We do suggest you come along, whether you’re part of a family or not, the spectacle is memorable.
Next on the agenda is our scintillating Annual General Meeting which will be held in the men’s bowls pavilion on Saturday 28 November at 11.15am. Followed swiftly – at 11.30am – by an illustrated talk on the history of Preston Park. Those that came on the history walk will be familiar with the stories, but the chronological approach is new, and the wonderful old photos of the park are fabulous. We think the talk will take about 45 minutes. We’ll provide tea/coffee and biscuits.
Finally, we’ll be hosting our usual Christmas wreath-making event on Sunday 13 December. It’s a lovely, festive time where we’ll be using local greenery and will show you how to make a gorgeous adornment (or gift?) for your door. It’ll be in the men’s bowls pavilion from 11am to 2pm. There’ll be a small charge for each wreath. We’ll provide mincers and tea/coffee.
Rookery wind gold award
Yes, the Rookery (or Rock Garden) was entered into the annual South and South East small park category of ‘Cities in Bloom’ – and won gold, the highest of five standards. This is a tremendous achievement; Garden Manager Andy and the volunteers who have made the area so beautiful deserve our thanks. Denise Taylor, Chair of Brighton & Hove City in Bloom said ‘When there is so much focus on the withdrawal of funding in most sectors across the city it is wonderful to be able to celebrate areas where the importance of the environment we live in is acknowledged in this way’.
Upcoming events in the park
There are a few events happening in the park over the next few weeks which you may want to know about:
Wednesday 12 August: A walk around the park to draw or paint flowers. Free. Bring drawing or watercolour painting equipment. Meet at the Rotunda at 1pm.
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August from 10am to 7pm: The Thai Festival,
Friday 28, Saturday 29, Sunday 30 August: Picture House pop-up cinema on Preston Manor lawn. Showing Whiplash, Birdman and Withnail and I respectively. Film start time: 9pm.
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 11.30am to 10pm: Together The People festival. Big name bands, family-orientated event.
Saturday 12 September 2.30pm in St Peter’s church in the park: Short talk about the impact of Magna Carta by local historian. Free, donations appreciated.
Sunday 20 September: Brighton 100 bike event starts and finishes in the park.