A massive thank-you to the volunteers that helped on a rather chilly Saturday morning the raising and decorating of the Plough Green Christmas tree.
And thanks to our financial supporters – Matt Martin owner of Ivygate Estate Agents, Dental Sense,. Joanne Chandler, W A Truelove and Sons, The Cartridge Clinic, and the Plough Bakery.
Volunteer Morning – Saturday 19th October
We’d postponed our Volunteer morning by a week to avoid the torrential rains of the previous weekend. We were rewarded with a very mild, and dry, Autumnal day.
As usual the Friends team, Fiona, Bryn, Nausheen and myself, were on site early to get our base-camp area set-up, supported by a couple of regulars – James, the photographer, and Malcolm.
We’d put in place extra precautions to protect our volunteers during this COVID crisis – these included clean/dirty tool areas, brand new gloves, registration, and social distanced working groups.
We had no idea how many people would come down today – given the current state of affairs. As it turned, we were not to be disappointed. We had a fantastic turn-out, with lots of regular faces, and some new faces. Everyone was very respectful of the safety measures we’d put in place. A massive thank-you to everyone who came down and who made such a huge effort to get our park looking great.
(Video – Fiona Sowell)
We did have a few people litter-picking, but it is testament to the hard work of the weekday group that we only managed to fill up two large bags with rubbish. We did find a set of golf clubs. Not sure how they got there!
With so many people on site, we were able to take on lots of jobs. The pond area was cleared-back and opened-up. We want to avoid the pond space becoming overgrown and dark.
Our volunteers worked hard to spread wood-chip on the path around the pond, the path across the private land, and the one that goes past the bird-feeders at the back of the park. A lot of bramble was removed at the front near the road, and some of the trees here had their lower branches removed to help open-up sight-lines and improve the shape of their crowns. At the back of the park a cut-through between the rear sports field and the rear meadow was re-opened, and wood-chip spread through here. These cut-throughs make the space more interesting to walk around.
Apart from the fact that lots of work was done, I also reflect on how lovely it was being out working in the park with our fellow neighbours. What a great sense of comradery and common purpose there was. There’s no doubt that these events are very good for our mental as well as physical well-being.
We all have a shared interest in our local park, and many have come to really appreciate the amenity it has offered us during lockdown and afterwards. As a community we’ll keep working to protect and improve this wonderful space.
(Thank-you to Andy Robinson, Community Manager, idverde, for organising the tools and the wood-chip deliveries, and also to Elliot Newton for lending additional tools from your Citizen Zoo tool stash. Once again thanks to James Campbell taking photos).
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
(Photograph by James Campbell)
Opening up the overgrown cut-through at the back of the park
Anyone missing some golf clubs?
Dreadful swing..
Simeon Linstead, Chair of Friends of Manor Park, interviews local wildlife expert, Elliot Newton, about the wildlife you might (or might not expect) to find at Manor Park and at the Hogsmill River.
Elliot was one of the team that made this wonderful film about the Hogsmill River.
What better way to get your kids out for an exercise than with the NEW Manor Park Scavenger Hunt. Created by Amy Odero, this scavenger hunt will appeal to younger children, helping them to explore the park.
Will they be able to find one of our community bat boxes or the seasonal pond?
Many thanks Amy.
Thank-you to all the volunteers who joined us today. We got a lot of work done. Clearing the remaining bramble from the new sightlines and wood chipping the path. And thank-you to those who were litter picking.
What a wonderful Saturday evening , such a large turnout. Simeon Linstead the organiser of the event gave a small speech in front of a crowd of over a hundred. Then after a loud countdown by the crowd, Matt Martin did the honors and switched on the lights.
Once again, thanks to our financial supporters – Matt Martin owner of Ivygate Estate Agents, Miller and Carter, Joanne Chandler, Jazz Barbers, Plough Pharmacy, Worcester Park Tiles, Bruce Elliot and last but not least, the Old Malden Ward Councillors.
