Friends of Hillside Gardens & Palace Road Nature Gardens Meeting in the Park
19th June 23
Present: Stephanie Charalambous –Chair, Tom Stanbury, Delphine Econ, Nigel Duckers – Minutes Secretary, Tony Emerson, Rosena Skeete, Andreas Kappes – Comms, Dino Skeete, Robbie Bulloch, Indigo Bulloch, Dorela Cufas, Amy Roe
Apologies: Gerry McAteer – Palace Road Nature Gardens, Evan Lerwill – Secretary, Cllr Olga Fitzroy
| 1 | Welcome and Apologies The meeting was held in glorious early evening sunshine in the park. Steph welcomed everyone and introductions were made. |
| 2 | Minutes of the Previous Meeting ? |
| 3 | Chair’s Report and Ongoing Issues See written report. A walkabout had taken place under the Partnership Agreement and various issues followed up. The following have been achieved: 2 new bins to be put in playground3 benches to be purchased, to be delivered in 3-4 weeksCycle hoops to be purchased and delivered in 2 weeksPergola roof to be renewed by Pit teamthe circular bench near the playground has been mended and a new fence put around the playground The cleaning of the passageways has been requested. The next Partnership meeting is 17th July. Rosena said that she and others were trying to keep the tennis courts free of weeds. Steph commented that LC seemed to have zero budget and zero plan for the maintenance of the courts. A second coat of paint is due. However, this will not be done by Blakedown – the original contractor who it is alleged have yet to be paid – but by another company; unfortunately they are unable to yet schedule the work, although Ian Ross has promised it ‘before Wimbledon’. Dorela – who works at South Thames College – offered to raise the possibility of Construction/Painting and Decorating students taking on projects and work experience in the park. This was welcomed. Steph pointed out that the tennis lines would need to be done professionally but plenty of other things need doing eg rendering, allotment railings etc In regard to the murals; two organisations were approached via Mered, the Parks Officer, and one is now the preferred partner. There will hopefully be community engagement in July and the works done in August. The meeting felt we would like ongoing input into the design and execution. The top wall, which was suggested as the ideal spot, is unstable and owned by housing. Nigel expressed the wish that the artists be given latitude to offer creative designs as they want, rather than necessarily for all four horizontal walls on the tennis courts and MUGA. There has been no progress on requested renewed back-boards for the basketball courts – promised by Kingston Landscapes for March/April – and we are requesting the repatriation of equipment bought for use in the park (including a leaf-blower) from LC. The point was made that LC seem to do what they want when they want. This led into a discussion, initiated by Tom, as to whether we could not move to a more ambitious and independent model in terms of running the park, similar to the Streatham SCOOP model or Brockwell Greenhouses, both of which have staff and income generation. This aspiration was supported but there was also comment that we have been down the road previously of having a cooperative arrangement with LC, which they dropped, and that our income generation capacity is less than that of other parks. Rosena offered to look into grants and funding opportunities in order to move things forward. Nigel suggested a short-term aim of trying to get LC to commit to a schedule of works, which could then be supported by Tom and other volunteers who work in the park; there was little optimism that this, already asked for coordination, could be achieved. In the Nature Garden, volunteers including Robbie and Indigo, had cut back vegetation, cleared paths, put down woodchip. Over 30 volunteers came to the Coronation session and that had been a great success, with some volunteers continuing to do so. Steph and Tom reported that one of the ponds needed ‘rethinking’ and the wild-flower meadow had not taken. Steph will contact Ian Boulton about the management of these. |
| 4 | Allotment Group In the absence of Christine Mukasa and Evan Lerwill, Dorela Cufas, kindly presented the allotment report. The allotments are thriving and new equipment has been purchased. Regular meetings are well-attended and future plans include purchasing a nursery greenhouse, painting the wall and fence, making a lean-to shelter. There was some feeling that there could be better coordination between the allotment group and the Friends in general eg around the horticultural work Tom and others are doing, and in terms of communication. Dorela agreed to take that back and Andreas will look at whether the various What’s App groups could be linked under a WA Community. The allotment group are keen to participate in the sports day eg with a produce stall and walks around. |
| 5 | Events Sports Day is 9th September. Unfortunately this conflicts with The Grafton Tennis Club Fox Trophy, which Nigel and Tony are scheduled to attend. After some debate we agreed to stick with this date. Tony asked for volunteers to help organise and Rosena, Andreas, Steph, Tom?, Robbie and Indy put themselves forward. Tony will organise a meeting date. The Streatham Free Film Festival are hoping to screen a film in the park on 17th September, possibly King Richard. They have the kit and we have applied for permission from LC for the event.Evan is negotiating access to the Children’s Centre for this and the Sports Day. |
| 6 | Tennis Dino and Rosena reported on Serious about Tennis activities. Social tennis has been going well; several tournaments have been held, one with all children getting prizes; summer camps are being planned; teams have been entered into the Surrey League and Red Bull tournament. Steph encouraged publicising tennis activity on the WA groups but Dino wanted to maintain separation around what might be seen as a conflict regarding promoting a business. |
| 7 | DONM The next meeting is 25th September. We would like to get back to meeting in local halls and will approach St Simon and St Jude church about fees etc. |
Friends of Hillside Gardens And Palace Road Nature Garden 