Friends of Preston Park

The CityParks department have had contractors look at the disused bowling-green with the intention of making it a pétanque terrain. At the moment they are waiting for a detailed estimate for the work. We’ll keep you posted.

The rock garden is looking particularly beautiful at this time of year. The bluebells that we all helped plant last autumn are looking healthy and should be in full flower before long. Look for photos on the website later in the spring. Andy Jeavons, the rock Garden’s chief gardener, has great news that the pump for the waterfall will be working again soon – the waterfall should be splashing away by early summer!

On Wednesday 16 February, staff from the Parks department and a representative of the Friends group met to lay a hedge in the Park. The area that we were working, between the Tile House and the playground, follows an ancient hedge line. We were given instructions on how to chop the existing brush with bill hooks and axes to leave a bare minimum of trunk left. The brush was swept uphill, away from the prevailing wind direction, and fixed with stakes and binders.

It’s an old method and will look beautiful, especially when it fills out. The hedge-laying method encourages new growth and will be a perfect habitat for various birds and small animals.

Juliet McCaffery has contacted us to let us know the outcome of a meeting with the Councillors and park officers.  The three Councillors from Preston Park attended, aling with two Councillors from Withdean and Cllr. Geoffrey Theobald. After looking at the cars in the park, they agreed to exclude the cars from the north road to the Chalet café and reduce traffic around the Rotunda.

It was also agreed that the situation in Preston Park Avenue would be looked at with a view to reducing the cost to encourage parking there rather than in the Park.

Juliet has presented a petition on the paddling pool water play to the Council and will follow this up.

A message from Harvest:

The first year of our demonstration vegetable garden was a great success and we’d like to thank all the local residents and park users who have expressed their interest and support for the project!

This year we will be expanding the garden to double its current size so we can demonstrate even more ways that you can grow your own – in whatever space you have available.
We are now seeking volunteers who can help with the expansion of the garden. We had a great team of volunteers in 2010 and this year we hope more people will join us to help expand the garden, maintain it and take home some of the harvest!

We will be running open volunteer workdays throughout February and March. Tasks will include building and filling the new raised beds, paths and fencing. No previous experience of gardening or building is required.

For more information please contact us on harvest@bhfood.org.uk or 01273 431 700.

Harvest Demo Garden Leaflet 2011 (PDF, 232K)

Volunteer Role Description – Harvest Garden Volunteer 2011 (PDF, 143K)

As you may have seen in the Argus, Brighton Pride has been given the go-ahead for a fenced and ticketed event in the park on August 13. As Pride will know exactly how many tickets have been sold, the facilities (loos etc) within the area should be sufficient for the number of people. We don’t know yet how many tickets will go on sale. Each of the entrances to the area will be manned by security personnel who will ensure the entrant has a ticket and that no glass is taken into the area. There remains an unknown factor about how many people might turn up without a ticket and remain outside the fenced area. Pride is aware of this and will do what they can to prevent a build-up of people. They have assured us, for instance, that prominent ads displayed on the route to the park will make it plain that entry is only permitted with a ticket. In the meantime, Pride has asked the local residents to let them know where possible where anti-social trouble hot-spots may occur – from this information they intend to deploy security personnel. You can contact Pride via www.brightonpride.org where there is an opportunity to give your view.

Minutes of Public Meeting 29 01 11 (PDF, 65K)

On Wednesday 16th February from 10am, you have the opportunity to participate in laying a new hedge in Preston Park using traditional methods and tools. The work will be overseen by Park Ranger Gary Mayer. Meet near the childrens’ playground.

On December 15th, Tony Benton and Sue Shepherd of Friends of Preston Park met with representatives from Brighton Pride to discuss next year’s Pride event. Click on the link to see the minutes: MeetingBrightonPride (PDF)

This watercolour by Charles Knight on the Brighton’s Architecture site, shows Captain Bertie MacLaren’s never-realised grand scheme for Preston Park in the 1920s.