Manor Park September Volunteer Morning

Sunday 27 September, 10.30am–1.30pm

Come and join us for our first weekend volunteer morning of the autumn as we spend a few hours caring for and improving Manor Park.

We’ll be getting stuck into a range of practical jobs around the park. The exact programme will depend on what needs doing at the time, but activities are likely to include things such as cutting back vegetation, woodland and pathway maintenance, spreading woodchip, building or repairing dead hedges, planting and litter-picking.

There’s no need for any previous experience and you don’t have to stay for the whole morning — come for an hour or join us for the full session. It’s a friendly, sociable way to spend some time outdoors, meet other local people and make a visible difference to the park.

Where to meet

We’ll meet on the grass by the park entrance next to the railway bridge.

What3Words: belt.turkey.yarn

What to bring

We’ll provide the tools and refreshments. Please wear sturdy footwear and clothes suitable for outdoor work — something you don’t mind getting muddy! If you have gardening gloves, you’re welcome to bring those too.

Children are very welcome but must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

Everyone welcome

Our volunteer mornings are open to everyone. Whether you’re a regular volunteer or have never joined us before, we’d love to see you.

Sunday 27 September | 10.30am–1.30pm | Manor Park

PUBLIC CONSULTATION REPORT – PROPOSED PLAYZONE AT MANOR PARK
Consultation run by Friends of Manor Park CIC
14–24 May — 120 Responses (KT3/KT4 focus)

Friends of Manor Park pre-amble

Friends of Manor Park CIC undertook this rapid public consultation in response to the accelerated timetable that Kingston Council communicated for moving the PlayZone/MUGA proposal into the formal planning process. Until April 2026, neither the Friends group—elected to represent the interests of the Manor Park community—nor the wider public local to Manor Park (KT3 and KT4) had been given any meaningful opportunity to shape or comment on a significant investment that the Council had been developing for many months.

Our aim in running this consultation was therefore straightforward: to ensure that the community has a voice, that this voice is acted upon, and that any investment in Manor Park is designed and delivered in a way that genuinely benefits local people, and respects the integrity of the park.

The results of the survey were mixed, with strong views expressed across the spectrum.

However, several clear themes and requests emerged.

Executive Summary — What the Community Said

Across 120 responses, the consultation reveals deeply polarised views, but with a clear overall trend:

Headline Findings

• Strong majority were unaware of the proposal before April 2026.
  E.g., “No” appears repeatedly in response to awareness before April 2026.
• Overwhelming support for publishing the Council’s 2024 consultation results.
  Many respondents explicitly state: “The council should share the full consultation results.”
• General sentiment toward the PlayZone is more negative than positive.
  Roughly 60–65% of respondents express negative or very negative views.
• Location is the single biggest concern.
  Many describe it as “not appropriate at all”, “cuts the park in half”, “too close to the playground/bowls club”.
• Cost and access are major barriers.
  A steep drop‑off occurs when confronted with paying to use the MUGA.
• Strong concern about loss of green space, wildlife impact, and ASB.
• Local children’s free access is seen as extremely important by a large majority.
• Women, disabled respondents, and low‑income households show even stronger concern about affordability and access.
• Awareness, Transparency & Trust

2.1 Awareness Before April 2026

A very large majority answered “No” to being aware of the proposal.

2.2 Desire for Transparency

A dominant theme: the Council must publish the 2024 consultation results.

Quotes include:

• “There should be no mystery or surprises to be presented later.”
• “The initial consultation could not have been widely publicised. It feels like the council have something to hide.”
• “What happens in places like Manor Park should be decided, democratically, by the local residents who use the park. What the council is doing is not democracy. It is the council deciding it knows what’s best for local residents, and going ahead with it anyway, and only doing lip-service consultations. At the very least, the council should be making these decisions in partnership with local residents, or even handing over power to residents to make these decisions. A much more ‘bottom-up’ approach is needed.”

This is one of the strongest consensus points in the entire dataset.

Overall Sentiment Toward the PlayZone Proposal

3.1 General Feeling

Responses range from “very positive” to “very negative”, but the modal response is negative.

Negative themes include:

• “Too expensive for kids.”
• “Loss of open green space.”
• “Impact on wildlife.”
• “Not needed — already football pitches.”
• “Privatisation of public space.”

Positive themes

include:

• “Great for kids and teens.”
• “All‑weather surface is needed.”
• “Encourages fitness and community use.”
  

  

3.2 Location Suitability

This is the most divisive question, but with a clear tilt toward unsuitable.

Common objections:

• “Not suitable at all.”
• “Cuts the park in half.”
• “Too close to the playground.”
• “Impacts bowls, cricket, tennis.”

Even some supporters of the PlayZone oppose the location.

Overall 59% felt the location unsuitable vs 30% thought it appropriate.

Cost, Access & Usage

4.1 Maximum Willingness to Pay

Responses cluster around:

• £0–£10 for many
• £20 is a psychological ceiling
• £30–£40 only acceptable if split across a team
• £60+ seen as unrealistic

4.2 Drop‑off at £20/hour

When asked about using the PlayZone if it cost over £20/hour, responses shift dramatically toward:

• “Unlikely”
• “Very unlikely”
• “Not at all”

Example:
“Not at all… Too expensive for kids… Wouldn’t use it… Why put it in if it’s unaffordable?”

This is one of the clearest behavioural signals in the dataset.

4.3 Ease of Access (SmartAccess Keypad)

Most respondents say “Very easy” — but this masks a deeper issue:

Those who find it “easy” are not the groups the Council says it wants to prioritise.

Disabled respondents, low‑income households, and older residents express:

• concerns about digital exclusion
• concerns about keypad reliability
• concerns about children being locked out

Priority Groups: Women, Disabled People, Low‑Income Families

5.1 Women

Women respondents show:

• higher concern about safety
• higher concern about ASB
• stronger emphasis on lighting, CCTV, supervision
• interest in netball and women‑only sessions

Example:
“As a woman I’d want safe access, lighting, cameras.”

5.2 Disabled Respondents

Disabled respondents consistently raise concerns about:

• accessibility of toilets (the condition being a relevant determinant)
• parking availability
• booking system barriers
• concerns about being priced out

Example:
“Will it be accessible for disabled park users?”
“Very few disabled bays in the car park.”

5.3 Low‑Income Households

Low‑income respondents are the least likely to use the facility.

Themes:

• “Sport should be free.”
• “This is a money‑making scheme.”
• “Kids won’t pay.”

Example:
“Everything is expensive. Sport should be free, not just for those who can afford it.”

5.4 Multi‑Ethnic Communities

Responses show:

• no clear evidence that the targeted groups were consulted
• concern about fairness if some groups receive free access and others do not

Free Access for Local Children

This is one of the strongest consensus points.

Across all demographics:

• “Extremely important” is the dominant answer.

Example:
“Local children should be the main users for free.”
“Kids need free access without clubs.”

Concerns: ASB, Wildlife, Noise, Lighting, Loss of Green Space

7.1 Anti‑Social Behaviour

ASB is the single most frequently cited concern.

Quotes include:

• “Bound to attract ASB.”
• “My son was mugged in the park — floodlights will make it easier for groups to gather.”
• “No supervision — who will manage this?”

7.2 Wildlife Impact

Many respondents mention:

• bats
• birds
• nocturnal species
• light pollution

Example:
“Lighted area will upset the local wildlife.”
“Impact on bats.”

7.3 Noise

Noise concerns include:

• shouting
• swearing
• balls hitting fencing
• late‑evening disturbance

7.4 Loss of Green Space

A major theme:

• “We need to protect our green spaces.”
• “This will destroy the openness of the park.”

Sports Preferences

Across all respondents:

• Padel/Pickleball appears most frequently 28%
• Football is the 2nd requested sport 22%
• Basketball appears frequently 15.1%
• Netball is strongly requested by women (12.9% overall group, but 15% of female respondents vs 13% for basketball. Football 15%, 19% for Padel/pickle)

‘Firstly, my daughter is a keen netballer, and as far as I am aware there are zero public facilities for this in the borough. Please note, BASKETBALL AND NETBALL ARE NOT THE SAME SPORT. So for her and other netballers to practice, they either need to pay to use facilities, or invest in their own net. For those without a garden, e.g. in flats, this is not possible.’

Low‑income and disabled respondents show:

• higher interest in free‑to‑access football
• lower interest in paid basketball/structured sessions

Usage Frequency

If free or low‑cost:

• Many say weekly.

If paid:

• Usage drops to monthly or less often.

If over £20/hour:

• Usage collapses to “unlikely” or “not at all.”

Key Themes by Demographic

10.1 Women

• Higher concern about ASB and safety.
• Strong interest in netball and women‑only sessions.
• Stronger opposition to location near playground.

10.2 Disabled Respondents

• Concern about access, toilets, parking.
• Concern about keypad entry.
• Concern about affordability.

10.3 Low‑Income Households

• Strongest opposition to pay‑for‑use model.
• Strongest support for free access for children.
• Least likely to use the facility at any price.

Conclusions

Clear Majority Concerns

• Lack of transparency
• Location inappropriate
• Loss of green space
• Wildlife impact
• ASB risk
• Cost barriers
• Digital exclusion
• Parking pressure

Clear Majority Priorities

• Free access for local children
• Protecting green space
• Improving existing facilities (paths, drainage, goals)
• Safety and supervision

Clear Behavioural Signal

Demand collapses above £20/hour.

Clear Equity Issue

The groups the Council claims to prioritise (women, disabled, low‑income, multi‑ethnic communities) are the least likely to benefit under the current model.

 

Our Spring Volunteer Morning delivered a fantastic turnouts, with around 30 volunteers joining us. It was a wonderful mix of ages, abilities, and first‑timers alongside our regulars — the kind of morning that shows exactly what community action looks like in practice.

Expanding Our Wildlife Hedge

One of the major tasks this weekend was continuing the development of our wildlife hedge along the path behind the houses. This area has now been fully cleared, and volunteers planted two‑abreast rows of young saplings, extending the hedge to roughly 50 metres in total.

Wildlife hedges bring huge ecological benefits:

• Habitat creation: They provide shelter, nesting sites, and food sources for birds, insects, and small mammals.
• Biodiversity corridors: Hedgerows act as safe “green highways,” helping wildlife move between habitats.
• Seasonal interest: Blossom, berries, and varied foliage support pollinators and enrich the park’s natural character.
• Long-term resilience: As the hedge matures, it strengthens the park’s structure, improves soil stability, and enhances the landscape.

Seeing this hedge take shape is a real milestone — and it’s entirely thanks to the hands-on work of our volunteers.

Finishing the Dead Hedge at the Middle Entrance

Another big achievement was completing the dead hedge near our middle entrance. Volunteers cleared the overgrowth on the verge side of the park and finished weaving the remaining material into the structure. The whole area now looks much smarter, more welcoming, and far better defined.

Dead hedges are a brilliant, sustainable feature for parks:

• They reuse natural materials that would otherwise be chipped or removed.
• They create habitat for insects, amphibians, and small mammals.
• They act as gentle barriers, guiding footfall and protecting sensitive areas.
• They visually soften entrances and pathways with natural texture.

Tree Planting, Path Improvements, and Woodland Care

Alongside the hedge work, volunteers also

• Planted several young trees
• Spread woodchip across our formal paths
• Repaired the football ruts through the woodland by the railway
• Carried out general tidying and stewardship across the site

Every task completed helps keep Manor Park healthy, accessible, and beautiful.

Community Support and Expert Help

We were delighted to be joined by members of the local police team, who rolled up their sleeves and worked alongside residents — a great example of partnership in action.
A huge thank you also goes to:

• Howard Gregory, arboricultural specialist, who supplied trees and shared his expertise throughout the morning
• James Campbell, who provided photography to help us document the day
• And the generous neighbour who donated a homemade cake — enjoyed by all during our break

A Morning That Made a Real Difference

Sessions like this remind us how much can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose. The park looks better, the habitat is richer, and the sense of community is stronger.
To everyone who joined us — thank you. Your time, energy, and goodwill genuinely shape the future of Manor Park.

If you’d like to get involved more regularly, our weekday team meets every Monday and Thursday, 10am–12 noon. Just drop us a line at team@ourmanorpark.org.uk

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for Saturday’s volunteer morning in Manor Park. From primary school children to retirees, every age group was represented — a true reflection of the diverse and generous spirit of our local community. We were especially pleased to welcome members of our local police ward team, who joined in with sleeves rolled up and smiles on their faces.

Together, we tackled a range of tasks that help keep the park safe, welcoming, and ecologically healthy:
• Cut back undergrowth along key pathways to improve visibility and access
• Built a beautiful dead hedge using natural materials — a haven for wildlife and a gentle barrier to protect sensitive areas
• Spread wood chip along informal paths to reduce muddiness and improve walkability
• Picked up several bags of litter, leaving the park noticeably cleaner and more inviting

These mornings aren’t just about maintenance — they’re about connection. Conversations sparked between neighbours who hadn’t met before, children learned about habitats and tools, and there was a shared sense of pride in making a visible difference.

We’re building something more than just hedges and pathways — we’re nurturing a culture of care, where everyone feels they have a stake in the future of our green spaces.

 

Next volunteer morning: Saturday 1st November, 10am–1pm
Whether you’re a seasoned conservation volunteer or just curious to get involved, we’d love to see you there. Tools and guidance provided — just bring your energy and curiosity.

See our events listings.

Let’s keep growing this together.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported this years’ Autumnfest in Manor Park

Despite the forecast, the rain mostly held off 😊 and we were able to enjoy a brilliant day together. These events are all about bringing our local community together—and we aim simply to break even. None of it would be possible without the financial support of our local businesses and the council.

 

A special shout-out to Fangorn Landscapes, our main sponsor and a fantastic local family firm, who not only backed the event but also helped transport the very heavy power generators 👏

Thanks also to Nausheen Arnold, who organised the event on behalf of Friends of Manor Park CIC, and to all the volunteers who helped with setup, marshalling, and packing down. Having a strong team at the end of the day makes a huge difference—and we had a great turnout that made it easier for everyone involved.

We’re grateful to all our stallholders, the classic car owners (we know some couldn’t make it due to the rain—we totally understand), the band Monsoon, our PA system crew, and our birds of prey expert.

It was lovely to welcome our local MP Paul Kohler, joined by Cllr Massimo, who represents the ward bordering the park.

Local business sponsors included: Large sponsors – Efficient Home Energy, Dar Al Zaad, and Ivy Gate Estate Agents, Supporters: Worcester Park Tiles, Hooky Street Coffee Company, Joanne Chandler, Prontaprint, Plough Bakery, and Jazz Barbers. Thank you all for your support!

🌿 And coming soon: our first Saturday volunteer morning of the autumn/winter season
Join us on Saturday 3rd October, 10am–1pm in the park. We’ll be building dead hedges, clearing bramble and overgrowth, maintaining informal paths, and litter picking. It’s a great way to get involved and make a visible difference.

🎄 We are currently working on: Christmas on Plough Green!
We’re now planning our festive event, which will likely include a light switch-on, Santa’s grotto, and a gift market. If you’d like to run a stall or be involved, please get in touch now.

If you’d like to be part of anything we do, drop us a line at Team@ourmanorpark.org.uk

Photos courtesy of James Ryan Campbell

2025 – AGM
Date: 30th June 7:30pm – 9pm
Minutes

Welcome by the Chair.

Both the committee members and those attending spent the first few minutes of the meeting introducing themselves.

The election was held for committee members. None of the positions were contested, with all candidates being elected, as follows.

Simeon Linstead – Chair and Committee member

Fiona Sowell – Secretary and Committee member

Nausheen Arnold – Treasurer and Committee member

Byn Jones – Committee member

Matt Martin – Committee member

Nausheen Arnold (NA) presented the finance report. This showed an income for the period of £6,976.44, and an expenditure of £9,153.75. We have a current cash balance of £1,604. The expenditure exceeded income as the period presented was after we’d received a sizeable donation in addition to holding an ongoing positive balance. It was highlighted that our events tend to break even or make a small surplus. Outside that we incur expenses running the group and our work events in the park. The group will buy bulbs, stakes, equipment etc.

It was also highlighted that our bank balance doesn’t not represent the true value of what the group does in terms of bringing investment into the park, and the in-kind value of the 1,000hrs (est) volunteer time that goes into the park each year.

NA gave an overview of our 2024 Autumnfest event and the following Christmas on Plough Green. Both free events aimed at the immediate local community.

Simeon Linstead (SL) gave a summary of activities in the green spaces – these included tree planting, bramble management, bulb planting, path maintenance, and dead hedging.

SL updated on the Path Project. We’re working through a phased project to deliver paths across the entire site. Phase 1 saw a path built around the front field connecting it to the playground and the entrances. Phase 2 has just been given funding. £40,000 for 170metres, which will replace most of the worn out path in towards the birdfeeders. Phase 3 will be the section through the rear meadow and Phase 4 around the edge of the large sports field. It was highlighted the section of path by the birdfeeders gets flooded in winter. SL said that this had been raised with the council. We have agreed that the level here needs to be built up higher than the sitting water. It was also raised, whether the entire path could not be installed in one go. SL responded that this was due to a lack of available funds. It was suggested that a pond could be dug out next to the path to aid drainage. SL responded by saying that he liked the idea of creating wetlands, but that this would have to be treated a separate project, and assessed as part of re-visiting the masterplan. It was mentioned that the SouthEast Rivers Trust might want to get involved funding this wetland space.

SL updated on the cafe. Generally everyone seems happy with the cafe. A welcome addition to the park. The team will sit down with the owner at the end of the season to review how it is going.

SL said that the committee will be setting up a Community Interest Company to run our events in order to take advantage of the limited liability status of the CIC structure.

SL said that we plan to run Autumnfest in September, Christmas on Plough Green in December, 4 x large weekend work mornings, one more summer walk, and the weekday team will be out as usual twice weekly in the park.

Bryn Jones said that the weekday team had doing a brilliant job. Their activities included litter-picking, tending the flower beds, tending the nature hedge, building dead hedging, managing bramble, watering and more. There was wide appreciation expressed for the hard work of the team. Their impact over the year is significant.

Bryn also highlighted the importance of our stewardship of the natural side of the park, saying we are keen to improve the biodiversity. Although much of the park is predominantly short mown grass there are still many areas where flora and fauna can and do flourish. A bird feeding station, small seasonal pond, stag beetle loggery, woodland, dead hedges and areas that encourage a range of wild flowers are on site. Bird and butterfly surveys are conducted annually.

He also highlighted our need to extend our knowledge of the flora and fauna in the park by developing and implementing a plan to establish species information. An example of the support we need is the British Trust for Ornithology Greenspaces project which is looking how we can improve our parks for birds and other wildlife by enhancing wildlife habitats. It is beneficial the public and schoolchildren get involved in this process.

SL said that the group wanted to revisit and refresh the park masterplan with the community. A lot of the plan has been delivered and it was felt that this year would be a good time to reinvigorate the work of the group and to focus on the park in terms of it being a community space.

The group is involved in trouble-shooting. On going issues highlighted by SL are: the sandpit liner has become loose, and the pit is almost empty. There is graffiti in the toilets and on the play slide. There are parts missing from some of the play equipment. The brickwork on the main gate looks like it is falling out. The lights in and around the car park often fail to come on in winter. These have been highlighted to the council, and we will monitor progress later in the summer. The council recognise that the markings in the car park need repainting. They have drawn plans and are getting supplier quotes. We’ve highlighted to the council that the brambles are out of control in the park and need mechanical intervention by the contractor.

The group recognised that the council are hard pressed both financially and with resources. That only goes to underline the need to work in partnership.

Other issues raised:
Bryn highlighted that the group may run into issues over the storage of tools following a complaint by an engineer servicing the boilers. Tools are kept in the boiler room, on the advice of the previous contractor.

Ian highlighted the large cracks that have opened up by the railway before the birdfeeders. They could cause injury to a walker or a dog.

The weekday team highlighted that there was a low level of awareness of who they are and what they do. It was suggested that they could consider wearing branded hi-viz, although it was also pointed out that they were not sure if all the team wanted to wear it.

It was raised, that the Friends group needs its own noticeboards, which are in part necessary to illustrate to people what we have in the park, what we do and how they can get involved.

It was flagged up that the woman’s toilets does not have a loo seat. This needs to be confirmed and if so, the group can pick up with the council.