Category Archives: Events

Events, FSP Calendar

AGM 2018 Summary

For those of you who couldn’t attend, here is a summary of the business part of the meeting.  The talk by Andy Brockman that followed it  was very interesting  and brought up questions for discussion. He has forwarded links for those of you who’d like more info …

Chair’s welcome by Kris Inglis

Kris ran through the year’s events so far and thanked all who had taken part or been involved in the organization

Maintenance of bird and bat boxes by members has been completed due to natural wear and tear as well as damage by other birds and squirrels. All ladder work is done in partnership with the council.

Kris mentioned a tree identification walk that local Beavers group have taken part in. It is hoped that Beavers, Cubs and Scouts will help with some grounds maintenance in the park and which will in turn enable them achieve badges to recognize their efforts.

A Brighton parks group had heard about our water fountain installation and have been in contact to find out about the fundraising aspects and process.

Kris ended by asking that Friends of the park continue to respect and appreciate the space and encourage others to do so.

The management committee was introduced. All agreed to re-stand and were voted in unanimously*. If anyone is interested in joining the committee they are welcome to come along to a meeting and decide whether they’d like to contribute.

Treasurer’s Report

Sonja O’Sullivan circulated and spoke to the annual accounts, taking questions at the end. A Parksfest grant from the council for the summer festival helped pay for a number of things but the underspend will be returned in due course.

A discussion covering the promotion of the event and the need for a generator followed and the management committee agreed to take the feedback on board.

New activities for next year were detailed and welcomed.

The committee will canvass opinion on the next improvement project for the park via email.

The business meeting over, our guest speaker Andy Brockman spoke on addressing heritage crime locally.

This is the Police UK Crime statistics site which will show what is going on in your area.  Just enter the post code you are interested in.

https://www.police.uk/search/?next=policing%3Aforce%3Aneighbourhood%3Acrime%3Aindex

This is the page for the Shooters Hill Neighbourhood Team [As you can see they cover Shrewsbury Park, Eaglesfield, and Oxleas].

https://www.police.uk/metropolitan/E05000227/

This looks at the issue of Heritage Crime in broad terms,

https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/caring-for-heritage/heritage-crime/tackling/

This is a guide to reporting a heritage crime [the same principles apply to a wildlife or environmental crime too]. https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/caring-for-heritage/heritage-crime/report/

This is a guide to making sites more secure.  It is mostly about buildings, but there is also material which is useful in talking about securing open spaces like Shrewsbury Park. Worth quoting if speaking to the Council or Police about any security issues 

 

Environment, Events

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.

Yoga 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

Events

FSP AGM – Friday 19 October

Annual General Meeting:

Friday 19 October 6-8 pm

at Shrewsbury House (bar open next door)

In addition to the business meeting and election of management committee members there will be time to raise your park ideas and issues.

Our guest speaker is archaeologist, Andy Brockman. He will talk about how our local history is vulnerable to heritage crime and what FSP can do to protect it.

2019 calendars will be on sale (£5)

See you there!

Events

Quiz on the Hill – 9 November

 

Friends of Shrewsbury Park 

Friends of Shrewsbury House

?Quiz?

on the Hill #2

Friday 9 November, 7 for 7.30pm

Shrewsbury House Library Bar

 Bushmoor Crescent SE18 3EG

 

  • Open Bar with snacks available
  • BYO nibbles
  • Tempting Raffle Prizes and Goodie Bags
  • Renowned Quizmasters Dee and Geoff

Book in person at The House, phone 020 8854 3895, or contact bookings@shrewsburyhouse.org

£5 per person, tables of 6 maximum:  Please pay cash or cheque on booking or by 2 November to secure places

Events, FSP Calendar

Yogathon – Sunday 9 September 10.30am

Following the hugely successful Yogathon in 2017, we’re back again this year on Sunday 9 September. Once again we’ll be running a class of 108 non-stop sun salutations to raise money for the environmental group Greenpeace. (Please bring your yoga mat with you).

Greenpeace is at the heart of the battle against run-away climate change, so, let’s support them with the yoga that we enjoy so much.

Weather: In the event of extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain or freezing cold weather the event will be postponed to a date to be announced in spring 2019.

Food: There will be delicious vegetarian food for sale on site by Papi’s Kitchen.

Clothing: Please wear suitable clothes that give you plenty freedom for movement. Also consider that you might get too hot so you could change easily into shorts or short sleeves t-shirt.

Suitability: All are welcome. We are aiming to complete the 108 Sun Salutations. So make sure you have a good rest the night before and a nourishing early breakfast.

Price: CASH ONLY £20/£10 student rate (please present your student card). Payment will be made on the day of event. Also participants will be able to get sponsored via online JustGiving as well as via mobile phone Just Text Giving (please note that if you do not have a Vodafone account, your phone company may make a charge for this service.)

Booking: Please book your place in advance – please send an e-mail to priscilasnbd@gmail.com confirming your attendance.

Find out more here http://www.yogabypri.com/yogathon.html

or

View the event on Facebook 

Events, FSP Calendar

Sizzling Summer Spree!

In case you don’t know firsthand, the Summer Spree was a huge success, the quintessential Summer Afternoon in the Park. And the Astronaut Training was a delightful addition.

Astronauts of tomorrow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special thanks to the Management Committee: Ron Senkus, Sonja O’Sullivan, Iris White, Sandra Bauer, Paul Buckley, Alan Deacon and Andy King. They pulled out all the stops and made the event happen in style.

All of us would like to thank the members of FSP (and their tireless  friends and families) who delivered leaflets, baked, took photos for the competition, suggested ideas, put up gazebos, dragged chairs and tables and boxes around, ran errands, ran stalls, served endless thirsty people and spread their cheerfulness in what was a truly neighbourhood event.

Continue reading Sizzling Summer Spree! →

Environment, Events

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.

Environment, Events, Organised walks

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
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.
Environment, Events, Organised walks

Spotted on Bird Walk – Greater Blue Tree Climber!

Our Bird Walk was a success (despite grey skies) with an enthusiastic group of members plus some visiting RSPB spotters invited by Stuart.  Between them all 23 different species were identified. The visitors were impressed by the habitats and birds Shrewsbury Park has to offer.

Nicky Wilson of RSPB Bexley wrote a wonderfully detailed and interesting report and graciously agreed to share it, so I’ll leave you to reading it yourself on this link.  Thank you so much , Nicky!

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley/reports/