They made a difference!

Many sincere thanks to Barclays Bank, Canary Wharf branch, and to 10th Royal Eltham Scouts for there brilliant and cheerful efforts clearing habitat areas in the Park on Friday 28 July.

Ruby Shand, master organiser of both groups, brought her crews to help FSP volunteers cut saplings and brambles in the meadow ready for late summer mowing, spread woodchips on the Dothill path and then pile the cuttings for the Rangers to pick up. The Scouts uncovered the thriving hedgerow their members planted 4 years ago, an annual effort

Super teamwork, everyone! And we look forward to their next visit, we’re taking you up on that generous offer!

And an extra thank you to the passing spontaneous volunteer named Peter, who lent his time and barrow skills for a couple hours!

Barclays volunteers off road
Scout territory

Picnic in the Park

Our 2023 Festival didn’t disappoint! Great music, great stalls and most important of all our fantastic local community came out in their droves – we estimate we had around 500 people attending over the course of the afternoon. We are so grateful for your support – this is the reason the committee put in the work – thank you for making it amazing!

And an extra thank you to the current Committee members: Sandra, Iris, Zena, Ron and Alan who spent many an hour planning and troubleshooting to put the event together. Can’t leave out the trusty core volunteers who turn up for set-up and take-down and always with a smile. – Kris, Chair

And thumbs up to Greenwich Parks Forum for their support and the Greenwich Borough Park Rangers who made sure the site was clean and clear, before and after.

If you have any of your own photos of the 2 July to add, please send them to werfsp@gmail.com

Oh what a night!

We had a fantastic time at the Friends of Shrewsbury Park Quiz last night, at Shrewsbury House!

Our fantastic Quizmasters, Dee and Geoff tested our general knowledge to the max. From Shrewsbury House Community Centre‘s resident Improshrews, we enjoyed Erik and John playing out scenes from comedy shows through the ages!

Find out more about the Improshrews here: improshrews.weebly.com

Thanks to everyone who came – the big winners with the craziest team name ever, was: Peanut Butter Giggle Sticks

The biggest losers: The Wooden Spoons

Our thanks also to the staff at Shrewsbury House, who were so welcoming – especially the reception and bar staff who were kept nice and busy.

Want to come and join us at the next quiz? Keep watch – we’ll post the date asap!

Fabulous Foraging

On Saturday 13 May, we gathered to discover what edible delights the park has to offer! Experienced, self-taught, and local forager, Kevin Godby from GCDA led us around the park, introducing us to lots of plants, bushes and trees that have edible parts.

Kevin had a great list of tips to share, including not foraging at a low level, to avoid contamination, never consuming too much of one kind of forage, being mindful of the time of year and ripeness of plants. As a general rule of thumb, younger seeds, buds and leaves are juicier and tastier!

We look forward to welcoming Kevin back to the park in another season to learn more!

Want to run a Stall at the 2023 Festival?

Have you got a passion for your hobby or interest? Maybe you volunteer for a fantastic charity that you’d like to represent?

Then why not be a stall-holder at our next festival? It will be held on Sunday 2 July 2023, 12 -5pm

We pride ourselves on having a great display of stalls and we love having old friends back, as well as new local community groups, charities, hobbyists or other sellers.

We welcome hundreds of visitors on the day – mostly local people living close to the park, but increasingly people from Greenwich and Bexley, and sometimes even further afield.

Please read the terms and conditions document (see link below) and fill in the form below:

Shrewsbury Park Stallholders Terms and Conditions

Please submit the form below by 7 June 2023:

Can’t see the form? Use this link

Dawn delights

The Dawn Chorus walk was a magic experience, once we all rolled into the park to meet Tim, our leader, for the 5am start.

We heard several species vying for attention, and the parakeets didn’t interfere too much. We could hear the tiny firecrests in the open area of the woods on the bird ID app but while everyone searched to see them, a sparrowhawk was spotted! The pair are nesting in a tall tree maybe 25 m into the woods from the small field. And then the female caught something for breakfast bringing reality of the natural world into focus.

Many thanks to Tim. And to Karen who captured the sparrowhawk on her camera.

In case you haven’t been in the park in the last week, go up the path for between the old and the new allotments and soak up the hawthorne blossom tunnel.

And the bird app mentioned is called MERLIN, free and easy to use on your phone.

QUIZ NIGHT BACK at Shrewsbury House

Friday 2 June, 7pm for 7.30 start

All proceeds to benefit Shrewsbury Park – Our amazing Quizmasters, Geoff and Dee will ask some suitably tricky questions, and we even see the return of the charades round by the Improvshrews!

Open Bar with snacks available in the House

At just £8 per person, it’s a very cheap and fun night out, so come and join us!

Bring your own nibbles
Tempting Raffle Prizes
Renowned Quizmasters Dee and Geoff
Prize for the winners (and for the biggest losers!)

Tables of 6 maximum:  We have a strict limit on tickets due to space at the venue. Windows and doors will be opened to provide good ventilation.

Tickets via eventbrite: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-of-shrewsbury-park-fundraising-quiz-tickets-617548503197

Sonja O’Sullivan

Last weekend, we officially christened our newest bench, installed with many kind donations from local people. It is dedicated to our beloved Sonja O’Sullivan, a treasured friend and member of our management committee. Her husband, Brian, spoke movingly about her love of the park.

Friends and family turned out in their droves on a cold March morning to celebrate her life.

Next time you are there, take a look – there’s a fabulous view from it too!

See if you can spot Sonja’s sister in the group photo – a great family resemblance!

Friends and family pose with the bench
Kris, our Chair and Brian speak movingly about Sonja’s achievements and love of the park

Happy New 2023

Catch up with 2022 FSP AGM 17 Nov

Held in Shrewsbury House – Present: 15 members, with 3 apologies

Chairperson, Kris Inglis began the meeting with thanks to those attending.
Our local speaker and Dothill allotment holder, Dr Philippa Mason, gave a fascinating talk about the geology under our feet on Shooters Hill and beyond. She is a senior lecturer in Planetary Remote Sensing at Imperial College London but presented very ’down to earth’ explanations of local features and their evolution over billions of years. FACT: The Thames was a glacial river and its glacial tributaries running down the hill became the sites of our oldest woodlands.
A lively Q&A followed and we hope to hear more from Dr Mason in future

Arising matters from last meeting:

  • Local Councillor involvement is increasing slowly with the help of Parks Forum
  • Signage, permanent and temporary, is being pursued by Committee
  • Idea about having an outdoor cinema isn’t feasible without a power source
  • Improving links with Shrewsbury House, event by event
  • Retaining wall along Plum Lane fixed

Management Committee was introduced and thanked for their efforts as we became more active again post-Covid. This has always been a volunteer position determined by individuals’ interest and time available. Officers are decided by the MC once elected at the AGM. You can volunteer to join the Committee at any time by contacting werfsp@gmail.com
Our dear friend and longstanding Treasurer Sonja O’Sullivan passed on in October. We now need a competent bookkeeper/treasurer to take up the position. They will have help from an aspiring assistant to share the load. This is an URGENT need coming into 2023 so please consider serving in this capacity.
All current members agreed to stand and were elected by members present.

Planned events so far:

  • Dec 3 – Daffodil bulb planting (had to be postponed until Jan/Feb)
  • 1 April – Bird Walk with Tim Rymer
  • 30 April – Dog Show and related activities (postponed from Summer Festival)
  • Agreement to fund a commemorative bench or plaque for Sonja -tbc
  • 17 February – Barclays Bank volunteer maintenance day along with 10th Royal Eltham Scouts participation

Plans in progress are Foraging Walk, Bat Walk, Military History Walk, Quiz in May, Summer Festival, habitat and wildlife surveys (we need more interested volunteers to join a core group).
All the events and activities in the park need time and effort from as many members as possible to embrace the whole community, including youngsters, to learn and be involved in this vital space. We have over 400 members on the mailing list… and would like to know that everyone feels part of Shrewsbury Park, using it happily, safely and wisely.
Please consider any contribution of hands-on help or ideas you could offer in the new year.

AOB:

  • The calendar was rested this year because of slow sales and lack of new entries
  • Request that nature camera footage to be posted more often on website
  • Tawny Owl box still waiting for installation
  • Agreed regular chippings of Dothill paths twice a year -in the works
  • Yogathon organiser to be approached for 2023
  • Suggestion of Easter Egg Hunt – any volunteers?

We wish everyone a very joyful holiday season and healthy new year.
We’re past the winter solstice so it’s getting lighter towards spring already!
Thank you for caring for and supporting your Park
The FSP Management Committee

Formed in 2006, the Friends of Shrewsbury Park encourage the use of Shrewsbury Park and support the development of facilities for recreation, education and amenities for local people and to encourage a sense of community around the park.