Summer Friends Meeting Summary

Attendees – Nick; Eleanor; Robert; Dilara; Will, Iain, Evan; Tony and Tom.

Apologies – Christine; Steph; Andreas; Melodie Nigel, Dino & Rosena.

Celebration

• Vice Chair (Robert Doyle) congratulated on being nominated for a Lambeth Civic Award under the Climate and Green Spaces!

Recent Activities

• Nature Garden Bird Watch completed.
• Dead-hedge and vegetation clearance carried out.
• Hillside tree-planting day was a strong success — approximately 30+ participants attended.
• Torchlight toad and newt survey conducted; breeding success observed in the new ponds.
• Wildlife-cops hedge planting completed near Downton Avenue.
• School sessions held with Streatham Wells: seed planting done; habitat and pond activities upcoming.

Park Forum/Partnership Board updates

• Reported Lambeth parks budget cut of £700k+, with high-level departmental restructuring underway — potential redundancies flagged.
• Upcoming bylaw consultation to be watched closely, including implications of dusk closing and enforcement.
• Possible “market testing” of parks properties noted, to check value of properties.
• June decision expected on the Oaks/Woodlands project.
• Estimated ~£5k “generic pot” available — Friends group to compile a wishlist.

Green Roots Fund feasibility bid

• Proposal to relandscape the tarmac and slope area near the depot, covering: accessibility improvements, seating, planting, drainage and rainwater management, and possible lighting.

Issues to report (combined email to Lambeth/police)

• Dog-fighting concerns.
• Tree and hedge damage; bolt cutters and bike-lock evidence found.
• Graffiti; a machete recovered on site.
• Gate, bike-rack, and depot-sink faults.
• Expired first-aid kits.
• Fly-tipping (oil and rice reported).
• Collapsed boundary fence.

Upcoming events

• BioBlitz — 24 April: Using iNaturalist app; school and scout groups involved. Volunteer rota to be arranged.
• Hillside Summer Fete — 27 June: Seeking stallholders, gazebos/tables, bunting and banner-making, and volunteer stewards. Formal budget decision needed.

Ongoing operations

• Saturday gardening sessions continuing with good turnout.
• Safeguarding process in place for youth volunteers.
• More whips to plant — watering needs noted; hoses to be added to the wishlist.
• Compost turning needs additional volunteers.
• Green waste disposal still unresolved — dead-hedge expansion under discussion.
• Tennis court repainting: audit to be conducted; follow-up with Lambeth’s tennis officer needed — previous estimate suggested 2027.
• Community plots: low waiting list; monthly meetups continue. Using logs instead of sleepers suggested.

Finances

• Recent donations: £100 (Incredible Edible), £190 (Sports Day), £50 (Gift Aid), ~£93 other.
• Possible unreceived/uncashed grant of £135.92 — to be chased.
• Current balances: ~£2,661 general fund, plus restricted funds — total approximately £4k.
• Formal fete budget and outlay decision agreed as needed.

Action Items

• Draft and send combined email to Lambeth and police covering all reported issues.
• Compile Friends group wishlist for the ~£5k generic parks pot—add hoses to the group’s equipment wishlist.
• Prepare volunteer rota for BioBlitz (24 April).
• Volunteers download and familiarise themselves with iNatualist app
• Recruit stallholders and stewards for the Hillside Summer Fete (27 June); confirm budget.
• Conduct tennis court audit and contact Lambeth’s tennis officer.
• Chase the uncashed £135.92 grant.
• Progress the Green Roots Fund feasibility bid for the depot area.
• Recruit help for compost turning at upcoming sessions.
• Resolve green waste disposal approach — consider dead-hedge expansion.
• Request use of the tap from the Children’s Centre