Bromley Friends Forum

Bromley’s Friends Forum, was established in 2005 to allow groups to share ideas and support one another.

The Parks Youth Advisory Panel was established last year to work alongside the Council’s Parks team to deliver better quality parks and open spaces.

Friends of parks groups exist for the Bromley's Park and Open Spaces Friends Forum, Bromley Town Parks and Gardens, Bromley Volunteer Ranger Service, Biggin Hill, Chislehurst Conservators, Croydon Road Recreation Ground, Harvington, Hayes Parks, Hayes Common, Hollydale Park, St Georges Churchyard, Jubilee Park, Kelsey Park, Poverest Park, Priory Gardens, Scadbury Park, Royston Field, Whitehall Recreation Ground and the Youth Advisory Panel.

At a series of recent 'roadshows' around the Borough, park custodians were on hand to raise awareness of local green spaces and recruit new volunteers. The events were part of a series designed to promote the benefits of being a ‘friend’ of a park and how residents can get involved in making their green space a better place. Residents can contact the Council to find out more and see how they can get involved in one of the 19 established groups.

“We are looking for enthusiastic individuals, young and old, with an interest in taking action to benefit their local community. The tasks on offer are diverse, there is something to suit everyone. From practical projects protecting wildlife, to organising events to raise a park’s profile, all are welcome.” said Howard Clark, Chairman of the boroughs Friends Forum.

The events encouraged passers-by to stop and find out more. Members of the Friends Forum, plus younger members of the Parks Youth Advisory Panel (aged 12 -16 years), were on hand to share their experiences of the type of activities volunteers can get involved with and to listen to views on how our parks could be improved.

Currently, over 2,000 dedicated volunteers belong to the Borough’s ‘Friends’ groups, taking postitive action to enhance their local park or open space. A total of four events took place in the Spring and early Summer - in Bromley Town Centre, Orpington, Penge and Biggin Hill (see July Newsletter above). The events were funded by an 'Awards for All' Lottery Grant of £5,000 awarded to the Friends Forum.

If you are interested in becoming a ‘Friend’ or would like further information on the Borough’s green spaces, please call 020 8313 4471 or email landscape.helpdesk@bromley.gov.uk.

July 2008 Newsletter

July! The month when parents, everywhere, hold their breath in anticipation of six weeks of mayhem while teachers take a well earned break.

But what of the Rec? Is it ready for picnics, informal games of football, toddlers on bikes and in buggies, teenagers on swings?

..................... Teenagers on swings?! ...................

Well, yes! Our older children are often to be seen in the swing park enjoying a swing or a go on the roundabout. Wish I was a bit younger (or braver) ‘cos it sure looks like fun! Anyway back to the point – is the Rec ready for summer?

I think it probably is!... Now!

It certainly wasn’t a week ago. The rose bed was an absolute disgrace: unweeded; undeadheaded; unloved; the ground-cover roses mildew-covered and leafless from black spot; the standards sporting long suckers and drooping overblown blooms; the ground trodden flat; the edges a mess. Not so much a pleasure garden more an eyesore. Not only had English Landscapes not been near but neither had we as the Festival and the Copse had claimed the two previous working party days and it doesn’t take long for gardens to get out of hand, as we all know!



Some Friends of the Park, distressed by the mess, instantly abandoned their own beds and borders and instituted an emergency work day. Unfortunately numbers were limited and the several hours they spent made little impact. The roses had performed extremely well and there were literally hundreds of dead heads, and the ground was baked hard. Despair!



So we phoned our 'man' at the Council who waved his magic wand, sprinkled some “oofle” dust and set in motion a train of events, the results of which have to be seen to be believed!



The grass has been box-mowed in stripes and is looking amazingly good and as a result of some wonderful work by Council Team members from Kelsey Park and Orpington, aided and abetted by a couple of the Friends, the rose bed is now positively blooming!



Thanks to the Council!
Thanks to all the gardeners!

While we are on such a positive note we must report a most successful Festival for the Friends of the Park on Saturday 5th July. The day dawned a little overcast with rain on the horizon but the gods smiled and the sun came out on a glorious though windy day. Our "Events Organiser” has acquired for us from ARGOS a very generous donation, a superb gazebo. This was duly erected with just a little help from some Friends, it being, as we said, rather gusty!



Two members are seen here in front of the Friends’ stand which featured a display on the hazards of dog waste and a photographic record of our work in the Rec this year.

Trays and pots of plants were available for purchase together with some beautiful pressed flower cards. Many local businesses supported us with donations of prizes for the raffle, and boxes of chocolates for the Great Litter Picking Challenge of 2008. There were 44 entrants for this fun competition including the Mayor herself!



The only downside, at the end of a most enjoyable day, was finding someone tipping a heap of still-smouldering charcoal from their barbecue on to the rose bed. Apparently as it was “organic” it didn’t matter!!

We also weren't told that we would need shovels to collect the pony droppings when we agreed to clean the Rec at the end of the Festival. Fortunately, the groundsman let us off the task and set to it himself. I expect his rhubarb was pleased!

Meanwhile, a number of Friends took off across the grass in pursuit of the now-flying litter, the wind speed having increased dramatically, pickers and black bin bags grasped firmly in our hands lest the gale tear them away.

One poor volunteer ended up doing the job twice after a particularly violent gust of wind turned his bag inside out, hurling crisp packets and sweet wrappers to the farthest corner of the Rec?. A nice turn of speed was demonstrated in recovering the situation! What you might call an occupational hazard in Biggin Hill I suppose.



By the way, we have some spare litter pickers (no! not the human variety!) in case you haven’t got yours yet. It can be a fun job and it is very rewarding to look back at what you have done.

HONESTLY!

Dates for your diary

Working Party dates:
Saturday August 1st 2008, 9am
Saturday September 6th 2008.
Meet at the Rec, pickers, gloves and capes to the ready!

Next Meeting

Tuesday 29th July
7pm at the Spitfire Centre, Church Road, Biggin Hill
See you there!

Biggin Hill Friends of the Park
Queries, complaints, comments or suggestions to bhfotp@googlemail.co.uk