Friends of Preston Park

 

Garry Meyer is Ranger for Dyke Road Park and Bevendean Downs Nature Reserve as well as Preston Park.

He has been a Ranger for four years and a Ranger for Preston Park for just over a year. He was a member of the grounds maintenance team in Preston Park so knows the park very well.

What do you like about the job?
I like working with community groups – like the Friends of Preston Park! I like being out and about and feeling like I’m making an impact.

What contributions have you made to the park?
I was instrumental in forming the Friends of Preston Park and I’ve organised a number of activities in the park. I’ve wanted to be a Ranger for Preston Park for a while. The park is a huge focal point and facility for the city. Everyone knows Preston Park – most people in the city will have used the park at some point. I feel a sense of pride and prestige at being a Ranger for the park.

What’s the best thing about the park?
Well, it’s so well-used and so well maintained. And more than any other park in the city there’s something going on from early in the morning to late in the evening – it’s so popular. A fantastic green space used by so many people, all getting enjoyment from it.

What are your ambitions for the park?
I’d like to see a lot more information in the park about its history and facilities. Perhaps it could be collated and designed by a local school in conjunction with the Friends group and Brighton and Hove City Council? There are lots of things about the park that people aren’t necessarily aware of: plants, trees, buildings. I think if people know more, they can enjoy it more.

Thank you Garry!

Bring along your own home-made lantern and we’ll take an evening walk around the park to show it off and banish those ogres and witches.

If you want, you can come in fancy dress. We’ll give a prize for the best lantern and a prize for the best fancy dress.

Meet at the Ladies Bowls pavilion (next to the Rotunda) in Preston Park. We’ll provide light refreshments, hot drinks and activities.

If you can, let us know beforehand that you want to come using our contact form or by emailing us at info@friendsofprestonpark.org.

Our first AGM was held on 13th September. The Chairman’s report and minutes can be downloaded below:

Chair’s Report Sept 2011 (PDF)

Minutes 13th September 2011 (PDF)

At the AGM on 13 September 2011, Joe McNulty joined the committee in the role of fundraiser and sponsorship. At the same time, Tim Lunnon (left, looking particularly smart) reluctantly stood down because of new work commitments. Tim made a valuable contribution to the work of the committee in its first year, particularly promoting links with the wide range of sports clubs that use the park. The committee thank Tim for all of his support and look forward to seeing him as a ‘Friend’ at future public meetings and events.

 

Brighton and Hove City Council has published proposals for tackling parking problems in and about the park. These proposals have come about as a result of resident and park users’ feedback and they want you to have a say. The proposals in brief are to:

• Create off-street parking areas to limit parking in the park to two designated areas, known as The Gallops and The Ride and shown in the information leaflet plan in red.
• Allow access to designated disabled parking bays close to the picnic area and central pathway (marked on the plan) for Blue Badge Holders only.
• Prevent non park users parking all day by restricting parking to a maximum of four hours in the park.
• Increase the length of stay for on street parking to 11 hours in the southern section of Preston Park Avenue (south of the existing loading bay).
• Introduce a parking charge lower than the on street parking charge to fund and maintain the proposed scheme. If an income is generated this will be reserved for improvements to Preston Park.

You can give us your views in person by visiting the Chalet Café September 01-14 or the Rotunda Café September 16-30 if you prefer to complete a survey on paper, and either return it using the box on site or a prepaid reply envelope by the 30 September 2011.

If you prefer to speak to council representatives then they are holding an exhibition at Preston Park Men’s Bowls Pavilion on Thursday 15 September 2011 between 2.00pm and 6.30pm.

You can also give your views by filling in the survey online.

Thanks to Mark Nelson of First Light Studios, Nile Street, Brighton, for many of these photos.

Click on the button in the bottom-right corner of the slide how to see the photos full screen.