Category Archives: Environment
January Bulb Binge
Thank you to Royal Greenwich Parks and Open Spaces for the 2000 free bulbs given to FSP in November. And to Woodlands Trust for the shrub saplings.
They are all planted at last, thanks to the efforts of a select team of members on the last Saturday of January.
Thank you Zena, Paul and Clive (photographer).
Kris – Management Committee
Spring Walks 2019
Dig out the boots and join one of the Spring Walks and Talks planned: Birds, trees, flora foraging and bats!
Full details for each walk will be up in the park notice boards, emailed to members and on this site as they come up.
Bird Walk- Sat 16thMarch
Tree ID Walk – Sun 28th April 2pm
Bat Walk – Fri 3rd May, 8.15pm
Foraging Walk – Sun 12th May, 2.30pm
All walks are now free but donations to support park projects are gratefully accepted.
Results of the Park Survey announced
As you will remember we circulated a survey in October after the AGM to find out what you wanted us to spend the fundraising proceeds on in the coming months.
We received 80 responses.
The Picnic Table idea came out on top by quite a margin at 42% followed by the gym at 27%.
The ‘other’ category was for people to add their ideas. The most popular once these were added up was ‘additional park benches’ 3 (4%).
We will update you with progress on securing the picnic tables when we can.
Yogathon for Greenpeace 2018
Once again we were blessed with warm sunshine for our second Iyengar Yogathon in Shrewsbury Park. 25 participants donated to Greenpeace to take part and were energised by performing 108 sequences of yoga poses in quick succession, each group of 9 sequences being led by different teachers. Half way through, the sun emerged as though it responded to our salutations. After our strenuous efforts we sat in the sun in beautiful Shrewsbury Park against the backdrop of the fabulous oak trees and the sounds of the gently waving leaves eating delicious Cuban food – most welcome.
There is no Planet B!
A representative from Greenpeace talked about what we can all do to limit our use of plastic, which is having such a deleterious effect on our planet. Many thanks to Kris Inglis, who liaises with Priscilla and the Council so that this event can take place. Thanks also to Ron and Paul for sorting out the gazebos. Well over £750 was raised for Greenpeace.
What is the significance of 108? The number 108 is sacred and significant in many ways, appearing in many disciplines from astronomy to yoga: The number 108 appears in ancient, sacred texts. For example, there are 108 Upanishads and 108 Tantras, and Mala bead necklaces have 108 beads, which are used to count during meditation. In Ayurveda, there are 108 sacred points on the body. In numerology, 108 equals 9, which symbolizes universal love, eternity and awakening. In astronomy, the distance between the Sun and Earth is roughly 108 times the Sun’s diameter.
Written by Cressida Senkus, Iyengar yoga teacher and FSP member
Checking in with the Bats!
This photo is of the eager Bat-seekers that came along for our annual Bat Walk 7 September. Les had more bat facts for us and as usual a pipistrelle buzzed the crowd prompting the walk to start!
We explored the different environments in the park, getting our night vision sorted out and enjoying the pleasant weather. A tawny owl followed our progress for awhile (looking for mates not humans) and bats came out to display their aerobatic skills while gobbling their evening meal!
Thank you to everyone who managed the pre-booking. Please keep an eye out for another walk in May if you missed this one. And thanks for the donations on the night, these go towards a second bat detector.
If you would like to borrow the FSP detector for a week please follow link http://fspark.org.uk/…/Terms-and-conditions-for-loan-of-FSP-bat-detector.docx
Have a look at the Bat Conservation Trust website for loads more about these important creatures. www.bats.org.uk
Tour the Allotments during the Summer Spree 12-5:30pm
You may not know but the extensive allotments at the edge of the Park have always been a substantial portion of Shrewsbury Park. On Sunday during the Summer Spree allotmenteers are offering tours of the plots and plenty of advice about growing your own.
Turn up at the Allotment gate at the end of Rowton Road or check at the FSP Membership stall at the Festival for directions.
Habitats Walk: Shrewsbury Park and Woodlands Farm Sunday 24 June 1 – 3.30pm
FSP and Woodlands Farm have collaborated to offer a relaxing ramble through these two diverse green spaces. It will be a meandering walk discovering varied habitats, plants, wildlife and atmospheres.
Walk begins at the car park entrance to Shrewsbury Park on Plum Lane and includes the woods, Dothill allotments and nature reserve. We then follow Barry Gray through the Dothill gate to Woodlands Farm taking in more woods, hedgerows and the hay meadows in full bloom. Endpoint is the café with refreshments available! You can retrace the route to the Park or take the 89 or 486 bus back up the hill.
Cost: £2 – Children up to 16 go free. We will be walking through fields containing ewes and lambs, so sorry, NO DOGS allowed on this walk.
Wear sturdy shoes and clothes for the weather on the day. Any questions about accessibility etc. please contact werfs@gmail.com
Shrewsbury Park Pollen Foraging Walk and Apiary Visit – Sunday 13 May
Sunday 13 May, meeting at Shrewsbury Park Car Park
(entrance on Plum Lane)
11am – 2pm
Ever wondered where honeybees gather their pollen to make nectar and then delicious honey? Or what the link is to local honey relieving the symptoms of hayfever?
Join us for a walk through Shrewsbury Park identifying which plants are in bloom and taking samples of pollen using tweezers and poly bags – also watching the honey bees foraging on the plants.
Afterwards, we have tickets for 10 lucky members to visit the Oxleas Apiary to see the bees in action – we might examine some microscopic slides of pollen samples too!
We can accommodate much more than 10 on the walk but only 10 at the Apiary session
Children are welcome on the Park walk, but not at the Apiary session which is held at the Council’s depot, meaning it could be dangerous for them – also, no pet dogs please!
Here are some links that might be useful if you are thinking of joining us for the event – http://www.largeassociates.com/cz1000/QuestionsandAnswers/BeeCatcher.html
Pollen colour charts http://www.kentbee.com/stw/articles/pollen-colour-guide.shtml
Access to the Apiary is from Kenilworth Gardens, into Crown Woods Lane, 1st right by Jack Wood Cottage, then 1st right again through the black gates (that may appear locked), into the depot yard and congregate near the parked YELLOW council lorries.
Finally, please read the Oxleas Wood Apiary Risk Assessment and for the visit wear a stout or preferably toe protected footwear and try to avoid using heavily scented soaps or perfume, as it can trigger hostility in the bees – more information on Health and Safety issues, bee stings, and Do’s and Don’ts when in the Apiary are available HERE: http://www.largeassociates.com/cz1000/YourPastQuestions.htm
Want to know how to book the Apiary session? just click through and register for free: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pollen-foraging-walk-tickets-45129025129
p.s. if you would like to make up some pollen microscope slides in advance then we could view these through a microscope during the visit.
Spring Foraging Walk – Sunday 6 May at 2.30pm
Meet at Garland Road entrance This free walk will take about 1.5 hours and finish at the car park off Plum Lane.
Kevin Godby of GCDA leads the walk, suitable for beginners or those who want to revisit his Autumn foraging trail of last year in a new season. You will learn to identify around 18 common forageable species, be shown where they grow and taste some of them too!
You may also bring along something to take home the things you come across, if you wish. A small teaspoon might be handy too…
Please wear suitable footwear and be aware we will be walking uphill. This walk is aimed at adults. If you have questions about the route re mobility please contact werfsp@gmail.com so we can help. No dogs, please.
This is an all-weather walk!