The community for users of Preston Park in Brighton, UK
Our next walk will be Sue Shepherd’s History of Preston Park Walk on Sunday 17th of November, starting at the Rotunda Café at 14.30. Please sign up at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-of-preston-park-walk-with-sue-shepherd-tickets-854635025367?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
There will be quite a lot of walking around the park which is fairly flat and wheelchair accessible, but please be aware of tree roots, etc.
Many thanks to Huw Morgan from Sussex Wildlife Trust for coming to Preston Park this week to give us some insight into the world of the Pipistrelle bats that like to hang out around various areas of the park. The weather managed to do the right thing and not rain, and we had some lovely evening light to start us off with.
Huw explained the process of using a bat detector and we were soon able to pick up the amazing ultrasonic vocalisations that the bats were giving out as they picked up on their evening snack of flying insects. Different bat species have a different sound pattern, and bats also make different noises depending on what they are doing ie they make different sounds when hunting as opposed to when they are looking for a mate. It was also fascinating to learn that bats are currently in the mating season, but that the females are able to put off pregnancy until May when there is more food availability.
Even once it got dark, we were able to enjoy the sounds and exciting flight displays as the bats zig-zagged over our heads! An enjoyable evening for all ages! For further information on bats, please go to either the Sussex Wildlife Trust website or the Sussex Bat Group.
Our next walk will be Sue Shepherd’s History of Preston Park Walk on Sunday 17th of November, starting at the Rotunda Café at 14.30. Please sign up via Eventbrite. There will be quite a lot of walking around the park which is fairly flat and wheelchair accessible, but please be aware of tree roots, etc..
West Sussex & Brighton & Hove Age UK have opened a new hub in Brighton & Hove. Situated on 95 Queens Road, near Brighton Station, it is hoped the new hub will provide the older population in the city with better information and advice, including money advice, cost of living, fitness tips and how to stay safe from scams and more! Residents can pop in anytime on weekdays from 9.30 until 16.00. For more information, please go to: https://linktr.ee/aukwsbh_brightonhove or contact them at: www.ageukwsbh.org.uk or 0800019 1310
Please note that The Ride, on the southern end of Preston Park will be resurfaced and lines re-marked from 8am on Wednesday 25th September until 5pm on Friday 27th September. The Ride will be closed during this period.
We are very excited and pleased to let you know that The Gilded Elm (2023) has been shortlisted for the 2024 PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture – alongside works by Larry Achiampong & David Blandy, Nick Hornby, Tom Shaw and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.
Please VOTE at the following website by scrolling to the bottom of the page https://pssauk.org/awards/
To read more about The Gilded Elm please visit https://elpidahv.art/works/the-gilded-elm/
The project has been funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, South Downs National Park Authority, Pride Social Impact Fund, Jeremy Knights & Co and supported by Brighton & Hove City Council. Critical support has also been received by several businesses, the most important of which are Brewers Decorators Centres, Repair Care, Connick Tree Care, Amazon Access Solutions, Gold Leaf Supplies, DP Squared Ltd, the artists agency and Yates.
Friends of Preston Park (FoPP) were pleased to welcome back Alan Griffiths for what has become an annual walk around the park sharing his in-depth knowledge of the horticultural history of Preston Park, captured over 40 years in his capacity as Operations Manager (his final role for CityParks).
The gathered group was treated at the outset to a wonderful view of the Rose Garden, still with many blooms, under a low Autumn sun and with a beautifully clear full rainbow to the east. Alan explained the transition of the rose garden planting from the original floribundas and traditional tea roses to the scented shrub roses in proliferation today. The huge contribution from David Austin roses throughout the years and continuing today was much appreciated by the group.
We walked around the formal garden admiring the current blooms and discussing the herbaceous beds along the borders. During Alan’s early years at CityParks there was an entire team of gardeners for the Rose Garden and a dedicated head gardener keeping the borders weed-free and the significant yew hedges perfectly trimmed. Our FOPP team talked the group through our upcoming plans to clear the borders and replace weeds with plants from our new propagating bench.
As the walk continued towards the tennis courts Alan told us about the grandeur of the bowling matches in Preston Park and reminisced about arriving very early in the morning to mow the greens in preparation. He indicated the layout of the five bowling greens and the separate changing pavilions for gentlemen and lady players! These are currently used by the FitnessHub gym and Woopsadaisy.
The group was very interested to hear about the use of the Winterbourne underground stream to water the park over the years, particularly in feeding the Rotunda pond. Alan pointed out the positions of the spring and the pumping gear.
Alan described the range of trees planted along the western edge of the park, selected and grown in the Stanmer nurseries and watered in from a truck carrying the stream water. We admired the newly planted UTFC trees, particularly the hawthorn currently laden with berries, which complement the existing varieties and are replacing some trees lost to elm disease and ash dieback. These trees are watered more efficiently these days with the aid of plastic water bags attached to their lower trunks.
The walk finished, as the sun set behind The Rockery with Alan reminding us how the remaining twin elm has observed centuries of development and change in the park, including the transition of its twin into its present gold and black statuesque form.
Remember to get your tickets for next week’s Preston Park walk with Alan Griffiths, former City parks manager, on Thursday 12 September starting at 6pm.
The new outdoor gym for Preston Park is currently being installed on one of the old ex-bowling greens. It is hoped that it will be complete by the end of September. The space will be fully inclusive and accessible for all adult residents. Users can use a QR code to find out information on how to use particular pieces of equipment and there will be a free floor space to do non equipment exercise. The gym ground surface should enable its use in all weathers if needed.
We hope residents will enjoy sharing the space respectfully and encourage everyone to come and give it a try.
