July Bulletin
We've had a heatwave and a deluge. With such unsettled weather it's hard to know what to wear, let alone when to water our gardens. But head gardener Tom Brown knows exactly where to concentrate his efforts.
He writes: We have maintenance in mind for the rest of the summer with only one project taking place at the end of July.
The flower garden lake restoration has been completed but is far from finished. In the coming weeks we will be adding another fleet of aquatic rafts to help improve the water quality.
Plants like Iris pseudacorus, Butomus umbellatus and Mentha aquatica are pre-grown on hessian rolls which can be laid out on our rafts. If we can successfully keep the ducks off them, the plants will take up the high nutrient content in the water and help manage some of the blanket weed outbreaks that we are having. The lilies have made it a full year in the lake and are starting to come into flower, see if you can spot them.
And something not to miss this month is the Queen's House herbaceous border. It is currently bursting with colour and interest, some of my favourites are Eupatorium cannabinum, Macleaya microcarpa and Veronicastrum virginicum.
Rafts to the rescue: Hessian rolls pre-grown with aquatic plants will be laid on the Flower Garden rafts to help deal with the blanket weed outbreak
No balls please!
A plea from Tom to those using the Flower Garden this summer - ball games are not to be played in the gardens at all, a lot of care and love is put into the bedding which can quickly become damaged when balls are kicked into the beds.
Poems in the Park
Connect to the Park in new ways by joining Jack Cooper, Friends' poet-in-residence, for a poetry group meeting that will explore work about Greenwich Park and the broader Greenwich area. Poems will be read and discussed in a friendly, group setting and attendees will be welcome to share any work that they like or have written. The session will be held in the Learning Centre (in the Flower Garden) on July 27 between 11am and noon. All are welcome.
Benchmark: Friends chair Tina Challacombe and Labrador Daisy at One Tree Hill, where the additional seating that the Friends had asked for has now been installed. More room for everyone to enjoy that wonderful view.
Wildflower wander
The Field Studies Council - the Park's Learning Partner - is running a series of walks which will explore the plant life and landscape of the Park. Participants will be introduced to the basics of examining, and appreciating, the wild and garden plants growing in the Park. To sign up for these walks, on July 16 and August 6, click here.
Conservation appeal
The Park is appealing to supporters to donate and help care for the ancient and newly-planted trees in the Park. Manager Clare Lane says climate change means 'trees that have stood for hundreds of years are now struggling and younger trees need more care to establish'. She says: 'By caring for our trees, we’re caring for a diverse range of animal and insect species. Please will you give £25 to support our conservation work? Your gift will support our dedicated team and their efforts to care for our precious trees.' To donate, click here.
Archaeology day
Find out all about the Romans in the Park at the Archaeology Festival which takes place on July 27. Park archaeologist Andrew Mayfield and volunteers have finished a three-week dig near the site of the Roman Temple and have uncovered lots of exciting finds. The dig has proved that the site was much larger than just the Temple and that it lasted till the end of the Roman era. Come along to the Grand Ascent viewpoint from 11am to 4pm to learn more about this and other excavations in the Park.
Trees and bird spotters
Friends can book for two free Tree Walks in the Park - on August 11 at 11am and 1pm. Booking opens on our website on July 17. Places are limited so priority will be given to those who haven't been before. No dogs please.
Julia Holland will lead the next Bird Walk on July 28. 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 group will next meet at 10am on July 13 at the Sancho Cafe, moving later to the Learning Centre. If you're interested in joining, email us at info@friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk, citing Photography Group.
Brilliant, bizarre day out
The Natural History Museum is running a well reviewed exhibition 'Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre' which is worth seeing. The exhibition runs until next January and is open from 10am to 16.30pm. Adult tickets are from £16.50. If you are an early bird there are also guided tours between 9am and 10am on dates available from the NHM website, for £25. See here for details.
Stormy weather...
Torrential rain sadly washed out yesterday's Bandstand concert, but there are many more opportunities to enjoy a musical Sunday in the Park. The free concerts take place every Sunday at 3pm. For a full list of of the bands who will be entertaining us - fingers crossed for finer weather - click here.