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    • History of the Brickfield and Local Area
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    • The Havelock Fisherman and his Attempted Murder
    • Oral History of the local Area
  • Bricks and Local Geology
    • About the brick pit of Coles-Child Lord of the Manor
    • The rocks – or clay – under our feet (the stratigraphy)
    • Pictures of our Brick Pit and Widmore Pit being worked
  • Thanks for our Campaign

Friends of Havelock Rec

Ward Councillors hand in Deed of Dedication Application!

Posted on March 28 by Kerry Hood

Friends of Havelock Rec are proud to say that our Ward Councillors, (Nicky Dykes, Will Harmer and Michael Rutherford from Bromley Town ward Conservatives) have handed in, to the council Environment portfolio holder, an application for the park to have a Deed of Dedication.  

Though the park is already designated Metropolitan Open Land, the friends feel that in the current housing crisis, this is insufficient protection.  For instance, the CPRE list 10 sites (link to pdf here) with the same designation that are threatened.  It should also be noted that it is perfectly permissible to build schools or other public buildings on Metropolitan Open Land – which is why the site was identified for a school when the Friends ran their campaign to save it. 

It is considered best practice to protect council owned green space with Deeds of Dedication, and Fields In Trust provided the Friends with help to fill in our application form – Fields in Trust work to safeguard recreational spaces and campaign for better statutory protection for all kinds of outdoor sites (through Deeds of Dedication).  Hammersmith & Fulham Council are protecting all the parks ‘for future generations’ in their borough with Deeds of Dedication (see announcement here).

 

Here is a photo of the proud moment:

Handing over our deed of dedication over : Will Harmer (ward councillor), Bob Neill (MP), Michael Rutherford (ward councillor), Kerry (Friends), Nicky Dykes (ward councillor)

 

 

Posted in Media news-items | Tagged news-item

It’s Snow Days in our Park!

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

This is the weather where people will walk a long way for the nice safe slope in our park! Here’s some of our pics of this year’s snow days in our park! 

 

And some more scenic pics:

 

Posted in Events news-items scenic-n-wildlife | Tagged scenic sledging snow-days

Some nice pics of our park – can you send us some too?

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

Here’s some nice pics around of our park, and we were wondering if you had some too?  We (or our parent friends groups/forums) would then be able to use them for future posts on social media, if that’s ok.  We think our park is ace and want to show off how great it is!

collage of photos of Havelock Rec

Read more
Posted in news-items scenic-n-wildlife | Tagged scenic

2018 Events

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

Put these dates in your diaries!

14th April, 2-4pm – Easter Mini Olympics

9th June, 12-4pm – The *Big* Big Lunch!

14th July, 2-4pm – Bats, Birds, Butterflies and Beyond

5th August, 12-3pm – Summer Family Picnic 

 

Posted in Events | Tagged events

Havelock Recreation Ground designated Local Green Space

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

In November 2016, alongside 20 parks in the Borough, we were designated the title of Local Green Space. A Local Green Space is a:

“green or open space which has been demonstrated to have special qualities and holds particular significance to the local community which it serves.

Development which causes harm to the ‘special qualities’ of a Local Green Space as defined within its Statement of Significance but is otherwise policy compliant will be considered inappropriate and will not be accepted except in very special circumstances.”

A lot of work and time went into the submission for this, so we are very proud to have achieved this status.

You can read the full documentation including the other parks that were granted this status, which is part of the Council’s Draft Local Plan, here.

Posted in front-page news-items | Tagged Local Green Space Local Plan

2017 Events

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Rebecca Davis

2017-01

Our events for 2017 will include our third Big Lunch in June, our third ‘Bug Day’ in July, a brand new summer picnic event in August and our second Havelock Hoedown. Now all we need is for the weather to be on our side in 2017 – we didn’t mind the rain really, but we have put in an early order for sunshine on these dates in 2017.

Read more
Posted in activities Events Information

Our happy Hoedown in Rain and Shine!

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Kerry Hood

 

Happy Hoedown!

16sep12-hoedown-2

Our locals were not put off by the weather, we know how to have fun here, whether it rains or not!

Read more
Posted in activities Events Sponsors

Bug Hunting and Birdbox Painting

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Rebecca Davis

There was a great turnout for our Bug Hunting and Birdbox Painting day on a very warm but windy Saturday 9th July.Even the sun turned up for a while.

bughuntposter2016-01

Thanks to everyone who came and participated! We sold out of birdboxes in record time and we now have 30 Havelock Hunters in our midst. Lots of people took part in the Scavenger Hunt, and there were some excellent drawings and crafts. Thanks to Sandy and Judy who helped us to identify lots of minibeasts and to Friends of the Earth who had a stall.

Read more
Posted in Events

Big Lunch 2016

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Rebecca Davis

We braved the rain and had a great time, so thank you to everyone who came along! The cake stall was as amazing as ever and the crowning glory made by Michelle was, quite literally, a crown! Happy 90th birthday Your Majesty! We hope the winners of the Guess the Weight of the cake competition enjoyed it as much as we all enjoyed the rest of the cakes.

BL1BL2BL3

Our volunteers set up the stalls (in pouring rain!) and a lovely marquee (thanks to the Scouts) complete with beautiful table decorations.

BL5BL4

And of course, everyone got stuck in to the Tug of War. We’re not sure who won…. but it was about the taking part.

BL7 BL8

Not forgetting the amazing game of pin the tail on Puddle the corgi – painting by Sandy.

BL9

What a great day, fun had by all who came. Thank you for helping us raise some much needed funds. See you at the next event in July.

 

 

 

Posted in Events

Where are we?

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Rebecca Davis

As we’ve just sent out lots of leaflets about our forthcoming events, we thought that some people may be new to the area or not be quite sure where we are. Just for you, here’s the map of the area showing Havelock Rec. For more detail on Google Maps, click here.

map

The two main entrances are on Homesdale Road and off Havelock Road (actually Marlborough Road). The Homesdale Road entrance is a pedestrian entrance opposite the Eivissa beauty salon.

If you’re arriving by car, parking is available on the street but is restricted to residents only between the hours of 12-2 on Monday – Saturday. There is pay and display parking available on nearby Chatterton Road.

If you’ve never visited us before, now’s your chance! We hope to see you on June 12th at noon for our Big Lunch, if not before.

Posted in Information

Make sure you receive our email newsletters

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Rebecca Davis

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Posted in News Letter

Town Green recommended to LBB Executive Committee

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Kerry Hood

michael_rutherford_tweet_planning_control

Posted in Uncategorised

Newsletter 03 – Happy New Year – From Your Friendly Local Park !

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Kerry Hood

It’s nearly a year since the fateful and desperate day when we formed our campaign to save our park, and this park friends group to run it.   Thanks to all of you, we still have a park to use and for our children to play in.   It also means that we are holding our AGM shortly: please join us for a drink and to talk about our park, at 8pm, at the Chatterton Arms on Wednesday 24th February!
In this newsletter:

Future Events
Our Future work for our Park
What we did this year
Finally

Future Events

10:30am Saturday 12th March – litter picking

12noon Sunday 12th  June – OUR 2ND ANNUAL BIG LUNCH

12noon Saturday 10th September – Havelock Hoedown

But more will be arranged – keep an eye on your email or the notice board!

Read more

Posted in activities campaign Events Media News Letter | Tagged asset big-lunch biodiversity campaign communicating newsletter town-green

We came and we planted!

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Kerry Hood

We are delighted to announce (for those of you who have not been on the brickfield recently) that we have finished planting both the Homesdale road entrance and the biodiversity hedge (along the chain link fence).

16jan18_volunteers planting hedge brickfieldbrickfield entrance planting finished

Thanks to everyone who made it happen! Personally speaking, when I first read that we should plant the hedge on Dr Judy’s biodiversity report, I never imagined that a year later we would have actually planted ourselves a hedge! I wasn’t sure we’d even have our recreation ground to put it on either!

Lots of thanks to Stephen Tickner at the landscape group, who enabled it to happen (and helped us muddle though learning how to be a friends group). The heideas_for_park_hedgedge planting was done by a volunteer group that Stephen organised, called Pulse. They are committed to helping long term unemployed back into work.

Thanks also to Mandy, who had faith and organisation to bid for the whips from the Woodland Trust, and to Caroline who found the ones from OVO Energy’s I Dig Trees project.
15dec18 first planting brickfield

 

 

Above, the drawing of what the hedge might look like in a couple of years time, from our page for your input into our action plan, and our little mascot William, supervising the work on the entrance!

Unfortunately, as the brick pit was filled with crushed and compacted rubble (and other stuff, see our history page) it is hard work to dig the holes to plant, and it is great that people put in the effort for the community – thanks again!

16jan18_our_justplanted_hedge_bridkfield

Posted in activities Events Media | Tagged asset big-skies biodiversity green-oasis wildlife

We have TREES and we’re going to plant !

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Kerry Hood

brickfield_rebeccas_planting_postere

 

We’ve arranged two planting sessions to put in all the little trees we’ve been sent! The sessions are on Monday (14th) and Saturday (16th December), and they’re also on Facebook here and here)

It will be exciting to see our plans to add diversity to our park actually take shape, and for our collective effort to make a little change for generations to come.

Our packs include h15dec05_7925_hedge_whips_etcolly, hawthorn, dog rose and hazel from the Woodland Trust, and Wayfaring tree, guelder rose, and dogwood (among others) from OVO energy.  For the entrance on Homesdale Road, we’ve also got some ornamental dogwood.

 

The hedge is following expert recommendation, this hedge will enhance the biodiversity value of our park, not just with the little trees themselves, but by providing food and (when bigger) homes for our bats, bumble bees and birdlife.  They will also give shelter for other plants brickfield_hedge_wildlife coland flowers that insects, like butterflies and grasshoppers, will love.

This is one of our projects to help us, as a community keep our park, as it provides a visible sign how much it is valued and used by the community.  If you have any ideas you have for our park, please feel free to fill in the survey (http://friendsofhavelockrec.org/our-action-plan/)or just email us:

 

Read more
Posted in activities Events Media scenic-n-wildlife | Tagged asset campaign

We are on Google street view!

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Kerry Hood

This summer, Google updated their street view of Homesdale Road, and our notice board now appears!

google homesdale rd entrance notice board aug15

google homesdale rd entrance notice board aug15

What’s really good about this, is that it means, that any Whitehall official, Bromley planning officer or speculative developer can see that we care about our park and that it is loved.  Also, the position of the parked car hides the broken railings, if not the somewhat drunken parking notice! Thanks also to people like Emma and Rebecca, (forgive me if I’ve missed anyone here) there are several notices on it, showing that we’ve been organising events and our park is not “under used” as was suggested when it was proposed as a site for building La Fontaine.

Posted in campaign Media | Tagged asset campaign

Our park is added to the List of Assets of Community Value !

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Kerry Hood

15jun02_4136 brickfield havelock rec added as asset of community value

 

We are very proud to announce that Havelock Recreation ground has been added to the List of Assets of Community Value!

 

 

15may28 LBB List_of_Assets_of_Community_Value

Only 15 places have been successfully registered in the London Borough of Bromley (see the photo of the other places) since the Localism Act came into effect in 2012.

 

The Localism Act required councils to keep a List of Assets of Community Value, and it also gave the Community Right to Bid; it means that when listed land is disposed of, the community has the right to a ‘moratorium period’ (seems to be six months) to decide if they want to bid for their asset. Importantly for us, it also demonstrates to government bodies and potential developers, the strength of local feeling about this park.

big lunch collated

(a montage of photos from our recent Big Lunch event)

What the internet says about the Community Asset Register, the Community Right to Bid, under the Localism Act.:


 

Community Right to Bid and the Community Asset Register

As part of the Localism Act local authorities are required to maintain a list of assets of community value which have been nominated by the local community.

A building or land is an asset of community value if its main use is to further the social wellbeing or interests of a local community for example a local village shop, community centre or playing fields.

Community right to bid

The Community right to bid came into force in September 2012. The Community right-to-bid allows communities to nominate buildings and land that they consider to be of value to the community, to be included on a local authority maintained list. If any of the assets on the register are put up for sale, the community is given a window of opportunity to express an interest in purchasing the asset, and another window of opportunity to bid. from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/5959/1896534.pdf

The Community Right to Bid allows communities and parish councils to nominate buildings or land for listing by the local authority as an asset of community value. An asset can be listed if its principal use furthers (or has recently furthered) their community’s social well-being or social interests (which include cultural, sporting or recreational interests) and is likely to do so in the future. When a listed asset comes to be sold, a moratorium on the sale (of up to six months) may be invoked, providing local community groups with a better chance to raise finance, develop a business and to make a bid to buy the asset on the open market. from: http://mycommunity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/LOCALITY-BID_UNDERSTANDING.pdf

How the Community Right to Bid will work

The Legislation

How the Community Right to Bid works is set out in the Localism Act and Regulations: With the Community Right to Bid, Local Authorities must keep a ‘List of Assets of Community Value’; the legislation sets out in detail the process they must enter into and what information they must include. The legislation also outlines the definition of an asset of community value, what groups can legitimately nominate, the appeals process for land owners, timescales for groups interested in buying land or property on the list, and compensation available to the owners of land or property on the list.

What is an Asset of Community Value?

A building or other land is an asset of community value if its main use has recently been or is presently used to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community and could do so in the future. The Localism Act states that “social interests” include cultural, recreational and sporting interests. The regulations list a number of situations where land or buildings are exempted from inclusion on the list or operation of the moratorium. These include homes, hotels, assets being transferred between kindred businesses, and Church of England land holdings.

Who can nominate Assets of Community Value

A number of community organisations can nominate land and buildings for inclusion on the list: parish councils, neighbourhood forums (as defined in Neighbourhood Planning regulations), unconstituted community groups of at least 21 members, not-for-private-profit organisations (e.g. charities). Community organisations also have to have a local connection, which means their activities are wholly or partly concerned with the area, or with a neighbouring authority’s area.

Moratorium Periods

The Community Right to Bid does not give the right of first refusal to community organisations to buy an asset that they successfully nominate for inclusion on the local authority’s list. What it does do is give time for them to put together the funding necessary to bid to buy the asset on the open market. If an owner wants to sell property/land that is on the list, they must tell the local authority. If the nominating body is keen to develop a bid, they can then call for the local authority to trigger a moratorium period, during which time the owner cannot proceed to sell the asset. There are two moratorium periods. Both start from the date the owner of the asset tells the local authority of their intention to sell. The first is the interim moratorium period, which is 6 weeks, during which time a community organisation can decide if they want to be considered as a potential bidder. The other is a full moratorium period, which is six months, during which a community organisation can develop a proposal and raise the money required to bid to buy the asset. The regulations list some situations where the Moratorium will not be applied, even when it is an Asset of Community Value on the list. These exceptions include the sale of assets from one partner or another (for example in a divorce).

Funding

In August 2012, the government announced grant funding which community organisations can apply for in order to make use of the Community Right to Bid or Community Asset Transfer. The Social Investment Business is managing the £16 million grants programme ‘Community Ownership and Management of Assets’ on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Posted in campaign Media Uncategorised | Tagged asset campaign green-oasis

June 7th – Our Amazing Big Lunch on Havelock

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Kerry Hood

15jun07 0015 big lunch pano

We had such a fantastic event!

big lunch collated

Thanks to the many of you who came along and made it a wonderful day! And to Rebecca for all that organising, to Stephen Tickner for helping us set it up and just being there, to Michelle for all those diet-busting delicious cakes (myself, I had too many of those), Cassie for the Tombola, Emma and the local businesses for the Tombola prizes, 3rd Bromley scouts for their tents, tug-of-war rope and expertise, and everyone else who helped out, who are too many to list!

Posted in activities Events Media | Tagged asset ball-games big-lunch cakes children-activities tug-of-war

Saturday 2nd May – Litter picking and CAKE

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Emma

We had a litter picking session, with cake provided by Michelle, the fabulous cake cook!

cartoon litter picking

There was lemon drizzle cake, and chocolate slice (both by Michelle) while Sandy send along some cookies.  They were scrumptious! Of course, we did pick the litter too!

15may02 litterpicking cake in the field

 

Posted in activities Events | Tagged cakes litter

 

On the 215mar29 board homesdale entrance8th March we made some temporary notice boards for our park:

As it was half term, some of the children did us some drawings to put on them (as well as the proper notices!).

15mar_1069 emmas kids n noticeboard

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Kerry Hood | Posted in activities Events Media | Tagged communicating

From the NewsShopper – plans to build on Havelock Recreation Ground shelved

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Kerry Hood

Here’s the article that Hatty Collier wrote yesterday, about our park,  in the News Shopper:

She said “Plans to build a primary school on a Bromley park have been shelved.

 

newsshopper_park_savedHavelock Recreation Ground on Havelock Road had been earmarked as the permanent site for La Fontaine Academy, which opened in temporary accommodation at Princes Plain, last September.

Residents, councillors and Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill have campaigned against the proposals.

Read more

Posted in campaign Media | Tagged asset campaign conservatives

Local Conservatives announce that our park is saved

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Kerry Hood

One of our ward councillors, Nicky Dykes, has posted about saving our park on the local conservative’s site, she tells us:

Bromley Councillors Stop Plans to Build on Havelock Rec

We are delighted to announce that our councillors tell us that they will not allow the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to build on our park: 

15mar27 michael rutherford tweet saved 15mar27 bromley_town_conservatives_victory

Nicola Dykes, one of our Ward Councillors, wrote “Due to considerable opposition from Bromley Town Councillors, local MP Bob Neill and the local community, the Council has informed the Education Funding Authority (EFA) that they will not lease them the land to build the school. Instead they are working with them to find an alternative  site for the school which they are confident they will be able to do.

Read more

Posted in campaign Media | Tagged asset campaign conservatives town-green

Bulb Planting and Litter Picking

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Kerry Hood

Thanks to all those hardy souls who turned up to help us pick the litter and plant the last of our bulbs!

Tea, coffee and cake were served too, and we all worked hard to improve our park:

Here’s a group photo of some of us at towards the end of the morning:

15mar14 litterpicking party brickfield

Litter picking at the Bourne End side,and bulb planting at the Havelock side:

15mar14 di and felix litterpicking brickfield15mar14 brickfield bulbplanting

 

 

Posted in activities Events scenic-n-wildlife | Tagged biodiversity litter

Heart of Havelock

Posted on March 25, 2015 by admin

Many of the Friends of Havelock Rec met up on Valentine’s Day 2015 to make a heart in the rec.

Our park is the heart of our community, so we laid out a symbolic heart in the brickfield.  We demonstrated how much, and how many of us care about our park.  Despite the chilly weather, lots of people turned up to support the campaign.

Posted in campaign Events Media | Tagged asset campaign

Newsletter 02 – Keep Calm and Carry On Saving Havelock Rec‏

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Kerry Hood

Please write to the Scrutiny Committee today!

To Our Supporters,

As we have said before, Havelock Rec is NOT saved yet and we need to keep campaigning and writing; the Council have not thrown the application out, and La Fontaine and the Education Funding Authority still have our park as their ‘preferred option’.

We are very grateful for the local conservative party’s support, but they don’t actually make the decision.  We want the option of building on Havelock Recreation ground to be dropped now, and not have to fight a planning application.

Read more

Posted in campaign Events News Letter | Tagged cakes campaign

Newsletter 01 – Havelock Recreation Ground Not Saved… Yet

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Kerry Hood

Havelock Recreation Ground Not Saved…Yet!

The Council have not thrown the application out, and La Fontaine and the Education Funding Authority still have our park as their ‘preferred option’.

We are very grateful for the local conservative party’s support, but they don’t actually make the decision.  We want the option of building on Havelock Recreation ground to be dropped now, and not have to fight a planning application.

Read more

Posted in campaign Events Media News Letter | Tagged campaign local-history town-green

Local Conservative team join residents to protect Havelock Rec

Posted on February 16, 2015 by admin

Friends of Havelock Rec got some good news today. Here’s the post from http://www.bobneillmp.co.uk/

Bob-Neill-web-page

Monday, 16 February, 2015
Recent proposals to build a new bilingual primary school on a section of Havelock Recreation Ground, put forward by the Education Funding Agency (EFA), have, quite understandably, caused deep concern amongst residents in Holmesdale Road and the local area.

La Fontaine Academy, which opened last September under the Government’s Free School policy, is currently in temporary accommodation at the site of the former Princes Plain School. Although there is of course a need to find a permanent home for La Fontaine, I remain unconvinced that Havelock Rec offers a suitable alternative for anyone involved, including pupils, staff, or indeed local residents. At the end of the day, we have precious little green space in the Borough, and what we do have should, I believe, be protected wherever possible.

Read more
Posted in Uncategorised | Tagged asset campaign conservatives town-green

Times change ..

Posted on February 15, 2015 by admin

meme(A gem found by Felix)

 

Posted in Media scenic-n-wildlife | Tagged asset big-skies green-oasis

First artists impression

Posted on February 12, 2015 by admin

An artist’s impression of what La Fontaine’s proposed school could look like, using the available details.
P1090838 brickfield artists impression combined

Posted in Media | Tagged campaign

Please visit the home page..

Posted on February 10, 2015 by admin

Our home page is deliberately not the front page of the site and first thing you see. We want visitors to quickly see any updates we post here. If you’ve not had a read of it yet please click Home in the navigation menu or this link.

Posted in Uncategorised | Tagged campaign

Window Poster for Supporters

Posted on February 10, 2015 by admin

Posted in campaign Media | Tagged campaign

What the rec looks like today

Posted on February 8, 2015 by admin

We’re working on a mock-up that will show what this view will look like with the proposed La Fontaine school.

Brickfields Pano Banner

To see this as a 360 panorama visit this link. If you view it on a modern smartphone or tablet it will turn as you turn the device using the compass and accelerometer. Be virtually there!

 

Posted in scenic-n-wildlife | Tagged asset big-skies green-oasis

Help us! Do you what this is – found in our Park?

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

Help us – what is this mystery object? 

The other weekend we were planting hedging whips to fill in gaps in our hedgerow, and we found this glass lense:

4inch glass lense dug up on Havelock Rec (aka the Brickfield) showing conchoidal fracture

 

Originally our park was a brickfield, and then a landfill site until the 1950s, so it’s possible to uncover all sorts of things that were discarded in yesteryear when you’re digging!

Do you know what it might have come from? So far we have the suggestions of a road lamp or a theatre light?  We are hoping one of our members might also belong to the bromley local history society and can ask them? 

Let us know what you think?  If you are talking to one of our older residents, perhaps they might know?

Posted in news-items | Tagged finds

S.O.S – Save our Swifts

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

Bromley Swift Survey from the Bromley RSPB

How many swifts are nesting near you?

Swifts have been nesting in our buildings for centuries and have been a common sight performing their aerial acrobatics over our borough’s towns in the summer. They spend the rest of their year in Africa.

Unfortunately, their numbers are in severe decline. Between 1995 and 2015 the UK lost more than half its swifts. Numbers appear to have fallen even more in Bromley over the same period.

The RSPB believes that loss of nest sites is at least partly responsible. Due to our tendency to seal up buildings during renovation or knock them down, swifts are returning to discover their nest site has gone or access is blocked.

Action is urgently needed to prevent swifts becoming extinct in Bromley.

We are running a Bromley Swift Survey between May and July this year to discover where they are still nesting. We need to find this out quickly so that action to provide nesting spaces can be targeted in the right areas.

No knowledge of swifts or previous experience of doing surveys is needed. It will be really simple and easy, and help will be available if needed, for example on how to identify a swift.

We will ask participants to go for a short walk along the streets near to where they live or another location of their choice. A balmy summer’s evening would be best as the swifts will be most active then. The walk should be repeated at least once a month between May and July – so a total of three short walks. The participant would make a note of any swifts they see flying at rooftop level as this means that the birds will be nesting nearby.

It would be great if you could take part. The more people who join in the better as we will build a more detailed picture of Bromley’s swift population.

To take part in the survey or find out more information you can either:

  • email our Group’s Recorder Peter Smart on bromleyrspbrecords@gmail.com
  • call the Group on 07392 790 719.

RSPB Bromley Local Group

Posted in scenic-n-wildlife | Tagged swift-survey wildlife

2018 Happy New Year from your Local Park!

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

Just a brief note to wish all our supporters a great time this yuletide season, and that you might enjoy a good new year, and a thank you, everyone, for your unstinted support this year! Please keep an eye on the events page on the website so you don’t miss anything (though we will put posters on the noticeboards too) 

I think we can say that the park has had a good year with all round improvements.

You might have noticed that, at the end of last year, we put up some rustic oak benches with the help of a volunteer group; Emma organised this – very well done – and Mark contributed the wood, so thanks to both of them!

In the spring, we had a record display of daffodils around the trees on the Havelock side of the park, thanks to the grass-cutting team who left them until the end of spring before mowing the area around the little trees.

Idverde, who are contracted to maintain the park, fulfilled the council’s obligation to replace some of our trees this summer, and put a ‘hippo’ bag for each new tree.

These dark green bags have a gap at the top (and a gap in the mesh protection too) that allow them to be watered – thanks to those people who watered the trees, that were within staggering distance of their houses! It was very beneficial to getting them through the dry spell in good nick.  This year we have a new parks officer at idverde, Caroll Long, that you might meet in our park, she’s got lots of knowledge and enthusiasm, so it’s going to be great to work with her!

This year’s Big Lunch was very enjoyable, and lots of thanks go to Rebecca and Michelle for organising it – the cakes were as delicious as always! Unfortunately there was too much wind for the hot air balloon to take off, but I noticed that most of the men were standing around it chatting for ages, whilst being regaled by stories of ballooning derring-do!

In the school summer holidays we held our BirdBox and Bug hunting day, and a new family picnic days, both of which the weather behaved and we all had a good time.

From the bug hunting: a wool carder bee, a gatekeeper butterfly, and some people on the bug hunt!

 

We held another Hoedown in September, but on review, we are not sure that September is a good time to hold an event? Anyway, we will be re-thinking our events, and perhaps concentrating more on the Big Lunch and summer events, as this has not proved very practical for making the necessary arrangements during the summer.  However, if you want to help and have your say on our decisions, all our committee meetings are open and we would be thrilled to see any of you!

Finally, just the other week, we have some more new trees – a little min-coppice of pine trees in the ESE corner near the green lane (to Waldo Road Waste Transfer station!).  These will look really fabulous in coming years, and it’s great that they’ve been planted at such a good time of year, so they can put some roots down before the park dries out in the summer! Apparently these were planned in November 2016, so it’s great to see them!

Wishing you all the best in the new year,

Emma, Kerry, and your committee.

Posted in activities front-page News Letter | Tagged newsletter

Havelock Hoedown 2017

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

We had a fantastic afternoon, and even the sun came out to play!
Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a good day!

17sep09 brickfield hoedown 20059 baker-girl-beauty-dancing

There’s a special mention for the Baker Girls who really contributed to the fun, and Mick whose calling meant that all the dances were do-able!

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Posted in Events front-page | Tagged Havelock Hoedown

Bird-box & Bug day 2017

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

We painted little bird boxes to go home, and hunted all over the field to see what bugs we could find!

17jul08 brickfield-birdbox-day poster 17jul08 brickfield-birdbox-day scouts-table
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Posted in Events front-page | Tagged bugs

Big Lunch 2017

Posted on March 18 by Kerry Hood

Thanks to Rebecca, Michelle, Emma and everyone for a really lovely event!

Emma in dago orange hi vis laughing as she tries to get lid off raffle tin

Emma drawing the raffle

groups of people having picnics on the park

picnicking on the park

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Posted in Uncategorised

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