JUNE BULLETIN
THE fences around the General Wolfe Statue will be gone by the end of the week and the hugely improved public space and viewing platform will be revealed.
Contractors for the work, part of the Greenwich Park Revealed project, were adding the finishing touches yesterday to the new paving, ready for visitors to flood in. The view over the lush slope of the Grand Ascent promises to be stunning. Now we just need some sunshine to enjoy it! The Grand Ascent itself will remain closed to the public for the moment while the grass banks become established. The Park is keen to avoid erosion on the slope and wants to adopt a 'watch and see' approach.
The Parterre Banks around the Queen's Field in front of the Grand Ascent have been finished and grassed. However they will also be fenced off for the summer to protect the new planting. If necessary they will be reseeded in the Autumn.
Elsewhere, work at the Blackheath Gate has finished, with wide grass verges and young trees replacing some parking spots and transforming the entrance to the Park. "A park, not a car park," says Park Manager Clare Lanes.
Some Friends have expressed concern about restricted opening hours at the Queen's Orchard. Clare has asked us to let everyone know that this is due to a change in leadership. A new head gardener for the orchard is currently being recruited and the situation should soon be resolved.
Head Gardener Tom Brown writes: The first phase of the Stumpery project has now been planted and that draws this project to a close until Autumn. A big thank-you to the conservation volunteers who put in a great shift getting all the plants in on the day.
The Dell offers shelter and protection, giving us the opportunity to experiment with tender plants. You may recognise tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) in the bedding, these are now a permanent feature of the Dell. We have used a broad mix of ferns like Dryopteris, Polypodium and Polystichum. We also have some more unusual plants like Luzula nivea (snow rush) and polygonatum x hybridum (Solomons's seal) so do be on the look out for those.
Cool customers: Tree ferns and tender plants in the Stumpery
Tickets for our Midsummer Jazz concert sold out in record time this year. The event in the Observatory Garden on Sunday, featuring the South London Jazz Orchestra, has become an increasingly popular family day out. But, don't despair, there is still plenty of jazz in the Park to look forward to. The Friends' free bandstand concerts run each Sunday at 3pm from June 30 until August 25. There is a final concert on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26. Please spread the word with a concert flyer in your window or pass one on to a friend. You can download the flyer here.
What makes an earthworm tick, and how do we encourage them into our gardens? The Field Studies Council - the Park's Learning Partner - is running two half-day workshops next Tuesday to tell us all we need to know.
The first course, Introduction to Earthworms, will delve into some of the fascinating aspects of their biology, ecology and behaviour. The afternoon session, Gardening for Earthworms, will explain why earthworms are vital for healthy soils and give learners guidance on how they can improve the earthworm diversity and abundance within their own gardens. The workshops will be held at the new Learning Centre.
The FSC is also running two walks, in July and August, exploring the plant life and landscape of the Park. The walk will explore the impact of centuries of change upon habitats and flora. To sign up for these courses, click here.
Loosen up with free Tai Chi and Tango lessons in the Park starting this week.
Tai Chi begins on Saturday, June 15, by the bandstand and Tango lessons go ahead on the same day but slightly later, in the Wolfe Statue area. Booking is necessary for these, so sign up via the Arts Trust website here.
Julia Holland will lead the next Bird Walk on June 23. 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.
There's still time to visit some of the gorgeous gardens in our area. The second Open Gardens weekend is over June 22/23 in aid of the Greenwich & Bexley Hospice. Gardens are scattered throughout Blackheath, Greenwich East and West and Charlton with a couple of outliers in Eltham and Lee. Last year the event raised a record £23,000. Buy tickets and find all the details here.
This burgeoning 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.