September Bulletin

Walking tall: One of the many fluffy goslings in the Flower Garden gets into its stride
Picture: Vida Cody, FoGP Photography Group

Head Gardener Tom Brown writes: As summer is ending, I’m sure there are those who are happy the cooler weather is coming in. I know the trees will be happier, especially with some well-needed rain arriving.
I’d like to pass on my thanks to all those who have given such positive feedback on all the work we have done this year. The Rose Garden has been received so well, it makes it worthwhile to see you all enjoying the space. There is still plenty to appreciate going into Autumn in the garden. A salvia called ‘Phyllis Fancy’, which is new to Greenwich Park, is not to be missed.
You will all soon see the Flower Garden Summer displays being brought in; we take all our tender perennials to the greenhouse where they will be propagated and overwintered. But before they disappear for a year, there is a lot of show from the cannas and dahlias, so keep an eye out for the last burst of Summer colour.
The hedge and meadow cutting will also soon be started, it will seem drastic but is essential to keep our parkland healthy and tidy. On top of the usual Autumn works, we have a few small projects worth knowing about. The Blackheath Avenue daffodil display will be renovated with native species, and the Rockery is going to have a facelift, taking back overgrown camellias, self-set shrubs and trees. The planting will also be updated with new acers and trained conifers.
Finally, the Herb Garden will be replanted in the Spring, so Autumn removals will leave the space bare until then.
I hope you have had a good summer in the Park and wish you all the best for the Winter ahead.

Nectar rich: The echinacea in the Rose Garden are a major draw for pollinators 
Picture: Jackie Downey, FoGP Photography Group

Come and listen to the man in charge

Any questions you'd like to put to the man in charge of the Royal Parks? Here's your chance.

Andrew Scattergood, CEO of The Royal Parks, is giving our annual lecture next month. Andrew's theme is 'A decade of transformation – 10 years as The Royal Parks CEO', which will be followed by a question and answer session. The lecture will take place on October 7 at 7.30pm in Mycenae House, Westcombe Park. Tickets are £12 which includes a glass of wine. Book your seat here.

Country to Soul... such a swinging summer

Finishing in style: The last of our bandstand concerts, the Great Cross Country Band    Picture: Roger Stevens

Our Summer Sunday bandstand concerts went down an absolute storm this season.
The series kicked off with the sell-out Midsummer Jazz concert in the Royal Observatory Garden, which raised a record-breaking £3465 for our charity.
The first concert at the beautifully renovated bandstand, to which the Friends of Greenwich Park made a major contribution, opened with the Gordon Webber Soul Band and (a slightly tweaked Beatles' number) ‘I get by with a little help from The Friends'.
Subsequent concerts ranged from big band, swing, soul, jazz, country and western, to modern rock. Hugely popular and massively well attended - with more than 800 adults and children on a couple of the Sundays - the concerts demonstrate how important these community events really are.
The weather played fair (mostly) but the musicians and audience refused to be daunted. The bands played on and the dancing continued.
With your continued support we look forward to another amazing Summer season next year.

Sunshine Sunday: Dancing to Cold Shoulder at the bandstand
Picture: Roger Stevens

Scuttle in for a creepy crawlie afternoon  

Drop into the Learning Centre over half-term for a spooky encounter with nature. The ‘Autumn Celebration’ Welcome Day, with the Greenwich Park team and the Friends' wildlife group, runs between 11am and 3pm on October 30. Learn all about the Park’s weird and wonderful wildlife, including the creepy crawlies and unlikely heroes of the natural world that thrive during this time of year.
All activities are free and there is no need to book, simply drop by and get involved. For further details click here.

A fungi finding expedition

Join our wildlife group on October 30 to explore the kingdom of fungi as we search high and (especially) low for some striking examples within the Park.

Learn how fungi play a vital role in the ecology of the various Park habitats and marvel at their many and varied forms. The walk will start at the Learning Centre in the Flower Garden at 11am. Booking will open here tomorrow.

Learn about Park history

There are still a few tickets left for the Friends' History Research Group's 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. Book on our website 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.

How to identify trees

Learn about the trees in the Park with nature guide Monika Dunkel.
The Friends continue to offer free Tree Walks to members and there are two more walks on Sunday, September 21, at 11am and 1pm.
Monika will explain tree identification with bark, leaves, flowers and fruit. The walks are restricted to adult members and children over 10 years. There will be a limited number of places. The walks take place largely in the Flower Garden so apologies, but dogs are not allowed. Reserve your slot here.

Seed-saving day in the Orchard

Come to The Queen's Orchard throughout the day on September 20 to learn all about seeds and see/smell/touch the flowers, fruits and vegetables we grow. 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 to taste juice pressed from Orchard apples. Plus, there will be activities for younger visitors and a scavenger hunt! 

Details are here.

A butterfly hovers on nectar-rich flowers  

Picture: Vida Cody, FoGP Photography Group

Join our Bird Walk

HMS Captain