January Bulletin
Plenty of planting ahead
It may feel bleak as we head further into January , but we've had some beautiful bright days this month and there is plenty to look forward to with projects taking place in the Park.
Head Gardener Tom Brown writes: I am pleased to let you all know that Blakedown Landscapes has been awarded the contract for the final phase of the Rose Garden project. The company carried out works for the Greenwich Park Revealed project and delivered the Flower Garden lake and the Grand Ascent works. The work in the Rose Garden is due to start at the end of February and should take six to eight weeks. The horticultural team, the gardening volunteers and I will then be carrying out the planting. We aim to have the Rose Garden finished by the Summer.
We will unfortunately need to close the Rose Garden while the work is taking place so please look out for signage with details on how best to walk around that part of the Park. This will be especially important for our visitors who regularly use Chesterfield Gate and Crooms Hill Gate. Thank you for your patience during this time.
In other news, the horticultural team will be planting up the south side of the Flower Garden lake from late January. We will be using stem interest plants such as Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ and C. ‘Midwinter Fire’ which should make for a dramatic display through the winters to come. We are also using some unusual ground cover plants like Rubus tricolor which will help suppress weeds, provide habitat and a food source for birds.
Spring is still a way off yet but our camellias are starting to bloom and are best viewed around the rockery and the new Learning Centre. These should keep us going until we start to see some early bulbs coming up. I wish you all the best for the coming weeks.
Blue sky thinking: Heavy frost carpets the Park in a stunning picture from Gwen Tew, FoGP Photography Group
A Jolly Holly Day
Our Christmas wreath-making sessions were a sell-out and enormous fun for everyone.
Fifty members piled into the Learning Centre before Christmas to wrap greenery, tie ribbons and generally beautify their wreaths.
A huge thanks to Harriet Booth - company director and talented florist - who led the workshops and whose patience and creativity knows no bounds. We'd also like to thank Park manager Clare Lanes for buckets full of wonderful grasses, greenery and berries.
We're already looking forward to next Christmas.
Buzzing: The busy Learning Centre (top) and some of our happy members with their beautiful wreaths (above)
Writing, rhyme and reason
If you love poetry, why not join Jack Cooper's reading and writing workshops in the Park.
Jack, our poet-in-residence, is holding sessions to read and discuss poems about the Park on February 8 and April 12. All sessions will take place in the Learning Centre and will run from noon until 1pm.
If you'd like to write your own poems, Jack will guide you through activities to help you with metaphors and similes about the Park on March 8 and May 10. Email him via the contact form on www.jackcooperpoet.com or through info@friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk, citing Poetry Group.
Bird walk
Julia Holland will lead the next Bird Walk on January 26th. 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.
Three of a kind...
The Photography Group held its first meeting of 2025 on January 4th. A decent turnout of ten people took part. The group decided to explore the south west quadrant of the park with the challenge of creating triptychs from the images. The next meeting is due to be held on March 1. If you're interested in joining and want more details email us at info@friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk, citing Photography Group.
Tree-o: Triptychs from Ian Welsby (top) and Paula Wilks