Friends of Preston Park

Unfortunately we have been told by the organisers that this event has been cancelled due to bad weather.

  

You may have seen the article in the Argus and the item on BBC TV regional news about the problem with the fish in the Rock Garden. Apparently the storage of the fish during the renovation works didn’t go according to plan. We asked the council for their comment about this and received this reply:

‘The pond started leaking at such an alarming rate that we decided that we couldn’t wait for funding to be found, and we didn’t want the fish to suffer, so I got funding from elsewhere and got this project under way. A lot of thought was put in to the programme, with the fish’s welfare the top priority.

The pond was electro-fished by a specialist aquatics company (Mayfly Aquacare of Lewes), on Tuesday 15th January. The fish were put in to three insulated and lined skips which were filled with water from the pond. We decided that by keeping them on site, it would be less stressful for the fish. Skips were used as they are totally vandal proof, and we didn’t want to find that someone had slashed a plastic pool, which was part of our original thinking. They were fenced off and covered over to prevent people throwing things in.

Aeration was considered, but after assessing the risk of having a live cable running to water and having evidence of people getting in to the site, even though we put security fencing all along the front of the garden for safety reasons, I decided against this.
Everything was fine, until the freezing spell of weather arrived. This meant that we couldn’t refresh the water in the skips, as the overflow of water would have gone on to the pavement and cycle lane, causing a real hazard. On Monday 28th January, I had a phone call from the RSPCA who were on site. I postponed a meeting I was just about to go in to, and met them. They had discovered that some fish had died. We don’t know exactly why and nor did they. There could have been several reasons. Because all was well when they were last inspected on Thursday 24th January, and we were all busy with the contractors, we didn’t get around to checking them on Monday which is why the RSPCA discovered them.

The RSPCA took the dead fish away, (no more than 30), and they gave me until mid day on Wednesday 30th January to get the fish in to other accommodation. I arranged this immediately, and by the deadline, all the fish, (hundreds of them), had been taken away by Mayfly Aquacare, where they are getting the best possible care. I’ve since been told that they are doing very well.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and we sincerely regret losing any fish, but I can assure you that we did everything with the welfare of the fish paramount at all times.’

Our thanks to the council for this statement.

Because of the bad weather and the extent of the crack in the pond it looks like the Rock Garden will be closed for longer than was anticipated. We’ll keep you posted.

Watch the development of our unique landscape and the wildlife found here in our digital photo exhibition: South Downs to Coastal Downs: our changing landscape. Talk to Rangers and officers about the project, natural history and wildlife of our area.

Kids’ Quiz and wildflower seeds to take away and plant in your gardens / window boxes, plus the opportunity to give your feedback on the project.

This is a free event.

Preston Park Men’s Bowls Pavilion, 21st February (during the half term), 10am to 2pm

The Rock Garden will be closed from Monday 7 January for 4 to 6 weeks.

This is to repair   a serious leak in the pond. Contractors will remove the lilies and rocks before emptying the pond, jet-washing it and repairing the leak. The pond will then be sealed, replanted and refilled.

What about the fish? You may have noticed a heron by the pond – see the previous posting – the lower water level may have made fishing in the pond more attractive! The fish will be removed from the pond and stored in large, polythene-lined skips. The species of fish include Koi carp, mirror carp, common carp, goldfish, golden orfe, blue orfe, roach, golden rudd, green tench, bream and perch.

Once the pond repair is complete, take a look at the life in the water there – it’s fascinating. There are frogs, toads, two types of newt as well as a variety of insects and birds that come to take advantage of the water.

Darren is a Preston Park Gardener. He’s been gardening in Preston Park for around 12 years.

What is it you enjoy about the work?
I enjoy working in the park – I like the variety of flower beds, different sorts of sports and the lovely trees. I think the park’s got everything. I like gardening. It’s satisfying to make something look nice and the praise I get from people in the park makes me feel good. I like working outdoors too, except when it’s freezing cold like today!

What would you say are your contributions to the park?
Well, one of the things I’m proud of is the annual border [that’s the border on the east side of the tennis courts, facing the children’s playground] – it’s now more of a mixed border. I’ve been trying to improve it over the last three years and have used a lot of my own stuff – my own seeds and plants I’ve acquired as well as some bulbs. I regard it as my own project really; it’s not finished yet though.

I helped to create the wildflower bank along the lime tree walk at the north of the park. The rains washed the seeds down so the flowers didn’t go right up the bank. I’ve prepared the area under the old hedge ready for sowing a mix of wildflowers which will look good in the spring/summer.

What do you think is the best thing about the park?
I think the dahlia walk [that’s the borders which line the path between the tennis courts] – in the spring and summer it looks amazing. And, at the beginning of the Autumn, if you’re by the clock tower looking back towards the Rotunda, the rusty autumn colours of the trees in the woodland walk looks fantastic. I love the variety of trees.

What are your ambitions for the park?
I’d like to see something more creative done with the unused bowling greens – perhaps combine two of them and put in wooden fitness apparatus.

Any personal message to readers?
Yes, would people please stop their dogs from pooing in the flower beds!!

The Rose Garden volunteer day has been rescheduled for Saturday 8 December at 10am – meet by the Rotunda. Let’s hope for better weather this time!

To inspire you during your bulb-planting, we’ve asked three brilliant local musicians to play for you, with sets at 11.30, 12.30 and 1.30.

Dylan Hodgson: A young rising star, Dylan’s singing and guitar playing demonstrates a fine developing talent. If you saw his performance at PrestFest in August here’s another chance to see him play.

Donna Fullman: Influences from the 60s and 70s sweep through her bittersweet authentically stunning songs – which embrace the unique vibes of folk, country and blues.

Antony Hodgson: Active on the Brighton music scene for more than 20 years, Antony Hodgson is finally venturing out as a solo artist. He has played guitar or fiddle in folk and americana outfits playing everything from barn dances to country punk. He has been part of Call To Arms, Bonanza, The Jamestown Union and The Righteous Ones. Antony’s real strength is his songwriting and it is this, coupled with carefully chosen covers, that he is showcasing now. His guitar style is influenced by the great English folk players, but Americana is clearly coming to the fore in his current performances.