Come join this FSP walk led by Stuart Banks, resident RSPB member, for an hour or two discovering what’s going on as the nesting season starts. The birdsong is growing every day!
The full route will be somewhat up and down but leisurely. Sturdy shoes and binoculars would be helpful. Email werfsp@gmail.com and we may be able to help with accessibility. Bus 291 stops at the gate.
Free to members, £2 for non-members.
Sorry no dogs, please.
This is a RAIN or SHINE walk!
On Friday 16 February, Staff and Trustees of Shrewsbury House, The Friends of Shrewsbury House and FSP joined forces to put on a (very competitive) Quiz.
A huge crowd descended on Shrewsbury House for an evening of fun and laughter, and it really delivered. The Old Library looked beautiful, set out with soft lights and decorated tables along with information from all of the organisers, and some charities who were looking for sponsorship.
The bar was busy all night providing the teams with plenty of drinks and snacks to the point where the tills were getting short on change! Able quizmasters Geoff and Dee showed true grit when taking on challenges from the floor for the rhyming pairs questions.
The raffle proved to be extremely popular with a great range of prizes from Prosecco and Chocolates to doggy treats and toys. The event raised around £300 which was split between the three organizers.
Thank you to all who supported the event.
The intrepid Peter and Keith of Parks and Open Spaces tree gang managed to clear out the bird boxes along Dothill path mid February ready for new tenants. However housing is at a premium for the moment because three of the boxes had been seriously vandalised by parakeets and/or squirrels. Hard to tell.
These were taken down and will be replaced. Eight of the boxes had been inhabited, the same as last season. But not the same boxes…hmmm
Battling the increasing chilly wind they re-positioned the 6 bat boxes that had been refurbished. You’ll spot them roughly in the same area as before. Many thanks to Clive who re-roofed the bat boxes and Peter and Keith for their expertise and ladder!
This is a truly locally-sourced quiz, a joint effort between Shrewsbury House, Friends of Shrewsbury Park and Friends of Shrewsbury House. The goals are to have FUN, raise the profile of local activities and possibly raise some money!
£3 per person, tables of 6 maximum. Book in person at Shrewsbury House, phone 020 8854 3895, or contact bookings@shrewsburyhouse.org
A belated Happy New Year to all!
After furious, squirrel-style planting a small group of members managed to get all 2000 crocus and daffodil bulbs into the ground in November. These were free from our Parks and Open Spaces Dept. Keep an eye out for green shoots in the coming weeks…
SEE LINKS BELOW FOR EVENTS LIST (in Word and pdf formats) with details so far. Some favourites, some new ideas, all to be confirmed as the year progresses. See you soon!
The Parks and Open Spaces department have once again given us 1000 crocus bulbs and 1000 native daffodil bulbs to enhance springtime in the Park. Kids are particularly good bulb planters…
We’ll meet at the bottom of the main path where it crosses the Green Chain Walk. Come along and help create some pockets of sunshine for the new year, adding to the ones we planted last year.
Bring a trowel or small shovel, and gloves. If the weather is anything but steady rain, we will have a go!
On the last Sunday in September, under bright blue sky and glorious sunshine, about 50 people completed 108 yoga sun salutations and have so far raised over £1200 for Greenpeace. The Yogathon lasted for about 3 hours and the participants were energised by the sequencing of movement, the sun and the fabulous surroundings. At the end, sitting in the sunshine, with a backdrop of healthy green oak trees, we listened to the local Greenpeace representative as she spoke briefly and passionately about their concerns and activities.
Sunday 10 September saw the much-anticipated Foraging Walk take place at Shrewsbury Park. Around 35 local people attended the walk to learn which hedges, plants and trees to forage from, but also those to avoid. The park offers a huge array of plants which can be used as food in a raw state, cooked, or in the form of teas. Amongst others they sampled cherry plums, hops, sloes, ground elder, burdock, horseradish, yarrow and raspberries.
Kevin Godby, a local expert who works for Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA) on their Growing Greenwich Project demonstrated how to find the seeds, berries and fruit and how to safely consume them. He shared home-made jam and produce that he had made from berries found in the park, pointing out where they grew as he went along the trail.
Kevin said: “It’s important to remember that foraging is about eating a little from a range of different fruit and not lots from one place, as the body needs variety and too much from one place can tip the balance the wrong way.”
Kris Inglis, Chair of FSP said “we have all learnt so much about what we can and can’t consume from the hedgerows. It is amazing to find so much in one space, which will change with every season. Until today we knew little of this intriguing aspect of the park.”
Michael Stuart, a keen forager from Kilburn also attended to offer his experience; his key advice is to observe an area to get to know it and see how it changes through the seasons which will lead to a deeper appreciation of the environment. He recommends winter and spring for the variety of fresh leaves available to add to salad.
By Sandra Bauer
Shrewsbury Park is the venue for a Yogathon in aid of Greenpeace, organised by Priscila Diniz, one of several local Iyengar yoga teachers instructing and guiding you through Sun Salutations on the day. For details of the format, how to register and what to bring, please visit http://yogabypri.com/yogathon.htm
