AUGUST BULLETIN
We know one of the matters that most concerns our members is the loss of Greenwich Park's dedicated police unit.
The unit has been cut in the wake of a Metropolitan Police budget shortfall. Greenwich is the first of The Royal Parks to lose its police but they will all be similarly affected.
The Friends have been made aware of reports of increased anti-social behaviour in the Park, notably problems with cyclists, theft and dogs, since the unit has been disbanded. We have passed on all these reports to the Park management and we are assured The Royal Parks are working hard to find a solution. Please do let us know if you experience any issues and we will let the Park know.
Dappled sunshine: A lovely study of an inviting path in the Park
Ian Welsby, FoGP Photography Group
In cheerier news, Greenwich Park has been re-awarded its Green Flag status, with the highest possible score. This is a prestigious international award and the judges met staff across the Park, landscape, volunteer, and biodiversity management teams.
Dreamy: The Ranger's House floats through a cloud of Sanguisorba
Will Lowe, FoGP Photography Group
And Greenwich has beaten off competition from the likes of Richmond Park and Regents Park to be voted the best park in London by the Daily Telegraph.
The Telegraph gave our beautiful green space top points for its history, its ancient trees, the Meridian Line and the amazing views, which range from the protected view of St Pauls to the cityscape of Canary Wharf.
Drawn in black and white: The dramatic geometry of the Rose Garden pergolas
Will Lowe, FoGP Photography Group
The Met would like your input
We may have lost our Park police but the Met is keen to connect with local communities and has launched an initiative called Met Engage. They say this new platform is 'an opportunity for you to tell us what's concerning you most so we can take action on the things that truly matter to you'. Let them know your concerns here.
At the bandstand over the next month...
Having a.... Jolly Good Timers in action at the Bandstand earlier this month
Picture: Roger Stevens
Sunday August 17 Graham Pike Big Band: 17-piece big band performing a wide variety of jazz - swing era, TV themes and some modern.
Sunday August 24 Greenwich Concert Band: Music from ‘stage and screen’, big band favourites, light classics and traditional concert band pieces.
Monday August 25 Cold Shoulder: Rock classics from the 70s to modern - Stones, The Beatles, Neil Young, Oasis, Stereophonics.
Sunday August 31 Great Cross Country Band C&W / Country Rock band - songs from Dolly Parton to Taylor Swift and Willie Nelson to George Strait.
All concerts are held at the Bandstand, are free, and start at 3pm.
Come and hear about history
We are delighted to tell you that the Friends' History Research Group is organising a series of free lectures for members.
The group is working with Historic England to archive research undertaken as part of the Greenwich Park Revealed project onto the Greater London Historic Environment Record. The aim now is to share some of this knowledge with our wider membership.
The talks are free but spaces are limited and are restricted to Friends of Greenwich Park members. Booking opens tomorrow here. All talks will take place in the Learning Centre in the Flower Garden.
Power and Protest: September 26, 2pm to 3.30pm
The action of local residents has protected the Park from unwelcome threats over the centuries. With a focus on the 19th century, the talk will explore some of these stories of protest and how they helped shape the Park.
Changing Landscapes: October 24, 2pm to 3.30pm
This talk will explore how royal patronage, trends in landscaping and design, and artistic styles, cultural movements and fashions have helped influence the changing shape of the landscape in the Park, focusing on the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Enclosing the Park: November 28, 2pm to 3.30pm
How the boundaries and entrances of the Park have evolved, in particular the history of the 17th century wall.
Archaeology through the Ages: December 20, 10.30am to midday
An outline - from the Roman Temple to the Grand Ascent - of what recent archaeology investigations have discovered.
Orchard daze
Scary stuff: A Royal Parks scarecrow frightens away the pesky pigeons
Kitchen Engagement Gardener Emma Paley keeps us up to date with the goings on in The Queen's Orchard:
'We have been as busy as bees down at The Queen's Orchard, harvesting plenty of produce and reaping the fruits of our labour.
Apricots have been falling from the sky, potatoes pulled from the earth, and grapes gobbled by birds.
Our compost is now covered in wiggling worms and warrior woodlice, making it ready to use. Compost not only adds nutritional value to crops but also improves water-holding capacity by binding soil particles together. We have been trying our best to retain as much water as possible during these hot and dry months.
Our Hügelkultur bed has been a monumental success, requiring less water than the others and producing the most abundance, as it overflows with scrumptious squashes. There is a team of heritage tomatoes which stand proudly around the bed in hay bales. Another Hügelkultur bed will be created during the winter months.
We will be growing more perennial vegetables next year, such as artichokes, sweet potatoes and mashua nasturtium tubers, to reduce water usage.
Thank you to all the volunteers for their consistent hard work and devotion to the magic that is The Queen's Orchard.'
Green-fingered volunteers:
William nurturing our own compost.
Pip, queen of fertilising, with the smallest of our cabbages to take home to turn into cabbage pie.
Carmen harvesting our 'Picasso Potatoes'
All pictures: Emma Paley, The Royal Parks
SEED-SAVING DAY IN THE ORCHARD
Drop in throughout the day on September 20 to learn all about seeds and see/smell/touch the flowers, fruits and vegetables we grow in The Queen’s Orchard. There will be opportunities to chat to our horticulture team and volunteers to learn how we save seeds and get tips for growing produce, while allowing wildlife to flourish. You will also get the chance to taste juice pressed from different varieties of apple growing in the orchard. Plus, there will be interactive activities for younger visitors and a scavenger hunt trail!
All the details are here.
Join our Bird Walk
Julia Holland will lead the next Bird Walk on Sunday August 31. Meet at the Blackheath Gate at 8.30am. There is no need to book, but bring binoculars if you have them. The walks last approximately two hours.
Learn about the Park's trees
Discover the trees in the Park and learn about tree identification with nature guide Monika Dunkel.
There are two more free walks for Friends on Sunday October 19 at 11am and 1pm. The walks are restricted to adult members and children over 10 years. They take place largely in the Flower Garden so apologies, but no dogs. Booking here
Chance to find the bats in the Park
Friends are invited to sign up for our first bat walk. Mark Pritchard will lead the walk on September 18 at 18.45pm. There are only 15 places so book a slot tomorrow here. The walk will start at Blackheath Gate.
Annual lecture - tickets on sale now
Our Annual Lecture is being given this year by Andrew Scattergood, CEO of The Royal Parks. Andrew's theme is 'A decade of transformation – 10 years as The Royal Parks CEO'.
The lecture will take place on October 7 at 7.30pm in Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, SE3 7SE
Tickets are £12 which includes a glass of wine. Book your seat here.