AUGUST BULLETIN
OVER the past four years we've watched the changes taking place in the Park under the hugely ambitious £12million Greenwich Park Revealed initiative.
Now's your chance to get along to the new Learning Centre in the Flower Garden and have a really good look at what's been discovered and the restorations and improvements that have resulted.
Light fantastic: A stunning image from Vida Cody, a member of the Friends of Greenwich Park Photography Group
For two weeks the centre is host to a multimedia showcase including archaeological finds, photos, video, interactive displays and much more. There are opportunities to help process the finds from the digs that have been conducted and to join archaeological guided walks. For more information see here.
The showcase - which is open from 11am to 4pm - began on Monday and culminates over the Bank Holiday weekend with a Family Festival on August 24 in the Wolfe Statue area. There will be Skate Jam, a Farmers' Market, music, dance, stalls and more. For full details see here.
The Park this month - water, water everywhere
Head gardener Tom Brown writes: THE weather has remained dry and we are still out in full force watering as much as we can. The new Avenue trees are showing signs of stress but are performing well for the current conditions and for the time they have been in the ground.
The Gardening Team has just launched another set of rafts into the Flower Garden lake, these will take a little bit of time to establish and start looking good but will play a key role in providing habitat and balancing the water quality.
As the bird nesting season draws to a close, we will begin the lengthy process of cutting the hedges. Please don’t be alarmed to see a lot of material being removed but the hedges can be very vigorous and need to be kept in check. We will also soon start the meadow cutting in the parkland, so those with hay fever may want to skip the visit on those days!
Yet again the summer has flown by and most of the Park visitors will soon retreat into hibernation. It is at this time the Gardening Team get stuck in to projects, so in the near future be on the lookout for work in the Stumpery and in the Flower Garden for the new Spring displays.
Take a gander: Close-ups of some of the Park's wildlife Pictures:
Vida Cody, Friends of Greenwich Park Photography Group
Work will also continue in the Rose Garden with the installation of a pair of identical circular pergolas set in the centre of the grassed areas. The structures - designed by Heather Burrell, who is responsible for the lovely gate at the entrance to the Queen's Orchard - will be made of Cor-ten steel which in time will rust to a neutral brown. The design will pick up on features found across the Park, such as the Royal Observatory dome and Ranger’s House ironmongery. The geometric pattern has been inspired by a nautical compass, leaning into the rich maritime history of Greenwich. We will be training Malvern Hills roses and Clematis Viticella for a full-bodied display in mid-summer. A final note to welcome our new Kitchen Gardener, Emma, who has settled in and already taken the Queen's Orchard on the path to greatness. Look out for an opening on the volunteer hub. We will be recruiting new volunteers very soon.
Poetry in action
FIVE members joined Jack Cooper, our poet-in-residence, for the inaugural meeting of the Friends of Greenwich Park Poetry Group at the Learning Centre.
There was a lively discussion of poems written about the Park, some dating as far back as 1728 and others hot off the press this year. The group especially enjoyed three poems written by Friends' member Dick Wiggins, which ranged from the humorous to melancholy. We're planning to hold poetry writing and reading sessions from October onwards. Details to follow in September's bulletin.
Jack has asked members to send him suggestions for poems about the Park they'd like to cover in the reading groups (their own included). Email him via the contact form on www.jackcooperpoet.com or through info@friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk, citing Poetry Group. We hope you can join next time!
Annual lecture - get your tickets now
THE Friends' annual lecture will be given by Andrew Scattergood CBE, the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks, on October 22, at 7.30pm for 8pm in Mycenae House. The talk is entitled: ‘The Royal Parks, Building the Future’. Tickets are available on our website here. The cost is £10, which includes a glass of wine. Seats are limited so do book yours now.
Bird alert
JULIA HOLLAND will lead the next Bird Walk on August 25. 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.
Photography group
THE Photography Group is looking forward to a double whammy over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The group is planing to visit the Family Festival on August 24 and also take pictures on the Friends' Bird Walk and of the bandstand concert on August 25. There's a lot going on!
If you're interested in joining and want more details email us at info@friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk, citing Photography Group.
Ignatius! - the music
A SERIES of concerts celebrating the life of writer, composer and abolitionist Ignatius Sancho will take place in the Flower Garden next month.
A specially commissioned concert performance with original music about the life and work of Sancho, who grew up in Greenwich and became the first Black person to vote in the UK, has been created by award-winning composer Nick Bicat and writer Tunde Euba. It's brought to us by Tramshed, in partnership with The Royal Parks, and is directed by Angela Ekaette Michaels.
There will be two performances each day on September 21 and 22. Tickets are free but you will need to book them here