Transcript of Stop 10 on Virtual & Audio Tour Featuring Memories & Local History

Posted on February 1 by Kerry Hood

At the Green lane entrance to the Park, by the Large Oak in the Neighbour’s garden.

Stop 10 – Of Podger’s Laundry, Raglan School sports day and Seagull Roost .

old black and white photo of Victorian church with spire

1925 St Lukes Bromley-Common thanks to Chatterton Road History Society

Narrator: Look towards the opposite side of the park, where you can see the spire of St Luke’s church, Bromley Common – behind the trees in the corner. The park is in the parish of St Luke’s.

Victorian light industrial building with arched windows and gables.

Henry Podger’s Laundry, rebuilt 1884. Phone 2020-11-07.

Homesdale Road in 1910, with Henry Podger’s laundry in the centre.

Narrator: On Homesdale Road, just past the Gas Works, is a brick industrial building. It is not a coincidence that this is over where the Blackbrook, or Ravensbourne West ‘river’ crosses Homesdale Road. It was built by Henry Podger, who was the son of a farmer, who, on hard times, was convicted of thieving from his employer in 1842. In Henry’s early years, he worked at Woolwich Arsenal, and then set up a laundry business here in 1864, using the stream’s water until mains water arrived.

Henry Podger is described as a real “Rags to Riches” story, and was so successful that he opened 3 shops in Bromley, and specialised in difficult items such as hat plumes and furniture, using machinery that he designed himself – including the first collar ironing machine, which was shown at the International Health Exhibition in 1884. The current building was rebuilt after a fire in 1886. The laundry employed many local people until the 1920s.

Until the 1980s, the field was used by the local School, Raglan Road Primary.

Marissa’s memory, narrated by Jo: “The brickfield was already a grassed playing field when I moved here in 1959, but the lady down the road, who had moved in 8 years earlier remembered it being grassed over. The work was done by the contractors, the Macintoshes. I was told that in the war there were two big guns (anti-aircraft) in there as it was a very big pit. And, there was half a house left (from the WW2 bombing) at number 43 (Havelock Road) with all the children playing in it. Every year at the end of the year, Raglan school would have a sports day on the brickfield, and my Maurizia was the champion running one year. At the weekend, the Raglan boys used to come and play football with the teacher. We used to go there in the evening as a family and play tennis and badminton. My Maurice would never allow us to picnic on the other side of the field, it had to be in our corner.

The Brickfield was left to the children of Raglan Road School, and the council was to look after it on their behalf.”

Gulls roost on Havelock Rec

Narrator: In recent years – since about 2016 – the park has been used, as a roost for the Herring gulls and Black headed gulls, who forage at the waste transfer station at Waldo Road. Before the gulls arrived, there had been a large flock of hundreds of carrion crows, who had supplemented their rubbish diet with the local song birds. As the Herring gulls have moved the crows on, song birds have recovered in the park and local gardens.

Continue along the edge of the park, round the corner, and down the side.

This part of the park is over the deepest part of the pits; the map shows 3 tiers of slopes to the bottom of the pit. Though trees have trouble growing along this side, the wildflowers do well and at the right time of year you can have yellow drifts of birds-foot trefoil or pink drifts of field bindweed.

Pink field bindweed drifts on Havelock Rec

Management Plan

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Kerry Hood

First Draft of the Havelock Rec Management Plan (extracts from)

These are extracts from the first draft (November 2018) of our management plan. It only contains the bits thought to be of more interest to park users, as they already know where the park is, how large it is, and can look at the Friends objectives elsewhere on the website.

About This Plan

This is the first management plan for Havelock Recreation Ground.
It is expected that it would have minor revisions every 2 years.
The layout attempts to be concise, with appendices to explore information, such as survey results, policies, and census data, in full.

2.1 Aim:
The intention is to prepare a plan to develop a strategic and practical framework to improve the park for all parties with an interest.
The purpose of this plan is to:
* Identify, discuss and resolve issues relating to park infrastructure, park users and available resources
* Describe the method of managing and maintaining Havelock Recreation Ground
* Identify and address who is responsible for specific aspects of management and maintenance
* Deliver a benchmark against which delivery and performance can be measured.
* Share knowledge and experiences

2.3 Authorship:
The plan has been drawn up by Kerry Hood from the Friends of Havelock Rec (FOHR), with the collaboration of our committee and the chair Emma Prescott. A template was provided by Caroll Long (as cited on this Friends Forum list) the park’s officer at the council contractors, Idverde.

2.4 Consultation:
Park users were surveyed so that they had a chance to input into the process. Initially this was by interviewing them on the field, later by featuring on the Friend’s website. Though the local businesses, including the Nursery leasing part of the park, were reached out to, none of them responded.

The park is in the SE corner of the Bromley Town ward. The surrounding roads are inhabited by a blue/white collar, white and mixed race people.
These are the roads that many of the park users live in:

The columns are from the survey results of (1) the 70 results in 2018; (2) the 2015 one for the village green application of 90 results. Homesdale road is characterised by a lot of flats; some older ones above the shops, and many in the new blocks (since the year 2000) at the A21 end.
Census data was obtained from Streetcheck website, who had already categorised it. It was collated over several of the census areas close to the park (see Appendix A1):

When the park’s friends group was formed in 2015, the park was not well maintained and gave the incorrect appearance of being un-loved. This section is about the changes to the park since then.

6.1 Improvements on the Ground

In February 2015, Dr Judy Johns did a biodiversity report on the park, and made some recommendations, which the friends have attended to, though some proposals had to be amended to reflect other things that have come to light since. The full report is in Appendix 3: Biodiversity Report from 2015.

Temporary notice boards were placed at the entrances, having gained special permission, in spring 2015.
In 2017, Idverde started to litter pick it a few times a week in the early morning. This has improved the park and we find that a tidy park discourages dog owners from not picking up.

Trees (broadleaf) were planted to replace gaps in the perimeter planting, but those over the rubble infill of the brick pit, have suffered in dry spell the park suffers from every June, so many are struggling and a few have died. The ones behind the houses on the Havelock side of the Park, have been watered by residents with gates onto the park, and have mostly thrived.

Some spare Scots Pine trees were planted the SE corner, forming a pleasant grove at the end of the hedge, in the winter of 2017. At the time of writing, after re-staking in 2018, they are alive.
The friends have been planting a hedge along the chain link fence, in winters of 2015/6/7 – these whips tend to be thinned out in the June dry-out so this area is getting a natural dispersed layout with a variety of species, provided (and thanks to) Evo Energy.

In spring 2018 it was finally agreed to leave an area of longer grass to provide a meadow area and improve bio-diversity. This meadow area changed (from the one recommended in the Biodiversity Report, Appendix A3). It is narrower against the northern chain-link-fence boundary, due to wanting benches to be attractive/accessible) and added around the trees on the southern boundary because that was the only part with the original London Clay underneath.

Dogwood (coloured) was planted at Homesdale road entrance, though there are gaps that need replacing.

In 2018 the friends restored the Canadian High commission plaque in memory of Patricia Ann Drennan that was removed when the nursery expanded.

6.2 Improvements with the Park’s status

When it was announced that a school would be built on the park, the friends applied for Town Green legal status for the park, but the council refused to register it.

However, the park was registered as a Local Community Asset (number 18 for Bromley) under the Local Government Act.

In 2016 it became possible to register parks (among other sites) as Green Spaces and the friends successfully applied for this.

The following improvements to the park, have been carefully considered by the (Friends of Havelock Rec) committee, and plotted on the following map of the park (please see our page with the Friend’s Vision Statement):

• Improvement of the park entrance from Homesdale Road. At present it is some broken railings, which gives the wrong impression of how loved the park is. In two parts: (1) planting coloured dogwood, with foxgloves and daffodil/spring bulbs, down one side. (2) adding a chicane of railway sleeper beds in place of the railing. Funding has been applied for (August 2018) from Greggs	• A circumference path, or at least improvements between Homesdale Road and Havelock Road (aka Marlborough Avenue) entrances where the London Clay substrate makes it boggy over winter.
	• Logs / Stumps / bumps to provide natural play features. Logs have successfully been added to Whitehall Rec.
• Replace cheap plywood on temporary notice boards. The Homesdale entrance is done, but the scorching faded and the lettering will be redone in a darker colour	• Picnic and sitting benches. Add a picnic bench, close to the dip, where parents could watch their children play (but not so close as to impede access). Add 2 or more little sitting benches on the south side.
• We like Stephen Lofting (Bromley Biodiversity Advisor) proposal of a bog garden in the waterlogged area just to the east of the container.	• Human Sundial to commemorate our brick making heritage and summer time introduction (with noticeboard)
• Audio Trail (with noticeboard) to inform users of the local heritage, using some of the excellent memories older residents have contributed.	• Smaller works: Bat Boxes, Bird Boxes, and climbing plants and bug hotel on side of the container • Add a [Local Park] road sign on Homesdale Road, as the park is not visible from any of the surrounding roads.
• Litter bins. Currently they are provided at the entrances and are inadequate and inconvenient. We want covered fox proof bins, reducing mess from animals and dumping of domestic waste.	• Native species hedge against the north chain-link fence, and meadow in front of this and in the triangle south of the Homesdale to Havelock road entrances.

Map of proposed improvements (work already carried out, is greyed out):

8.1 First cut at timescales for these proposals:

A plan of the timeline for the Friend’s proposals, and completing the work already started.
It is possible that a fitness equipment/trail could be added, as there appears to be funding for it under Healthy Lifestyles Schemes, and it might be able to include a perimeter path.
The container café idea is not included as there isn’t anyone with spare time to pursue the idea, it would require considerable effort to coordinate volunteers to man.
If either of these schemes materialise then the Friends will see if it’s possible amend the Management Plan.

Here’s the result of our SWOT analysis for the park:
(SWOT – below – SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound)

Strengths

• Open space
• Trees planted around perimeter 2017
• The mown area provides a good place to relax and sit
• Park has popular events run by the Friends of Havelock Recreation ground
• Good transport links
• Hedge and meadow areas being developed have improved biodiversity

Weaknesses

• Inaccessible to the disabled or local infirm residents that need to access by car, as there is no non-zoned parking places.
• No toilet facilities
• No refreshment facilities
• Limited seating
• Problems with dog fouling
• Has been ASB in summer months
• Noticeboards are temporary and replacement needs work
• Some entrances are not welcoming

Opportunities

• Create stronger links with other community groups
• Container Café
• Develop and widen sports facilities in the park, eg Outdoor gym
• Develop a range of wild life Habitats
• More nature days
• Improve signage
• Develop links with Raglan School
• Plant more trees
• Plant more spring bulbs
• Establish wet/bog plant area

Threats

• Anti social behaviour
• Development (venerable as only non-ornamental park in ward)
• Underfunding/lack of investment
• Limited number of active residents from the community

8.3 Considerations arising from talking to Park users

Some differences of opinion that came to light from the surveying:
• Some remonstrations between parents and dog walkers, where children find dogs scary and dogs find children scary
• Disagreements as to whether a dog off the lead is allowed or under control
• Concern that a perimeter path might allow children with bikes and scooters to ‘push’ less able people off the path and frighten nervous dogs into running/barking.
Note: in this park, the received wisdom about having gates from resident’s gardens into the park, is the opposite of our findings: rubbish is tipped by (renting) people who have unkempt fences and rough vegetation areas behind their properties; whereas those with gates take a proprietary interest in the field and are more involved. None of them have dumped rubbish behind their gates.
On discussion, a few of the more elderly park users wanted some car parking that is not in the permit zone (because we are on the edge of a zone, and some people two roads away are in a different zone). They felt that by the time they’d walked from their house, they were too tired to then actually enjoy the park. One of these had conflict with the nursery manager on this issue. The nursery fenced off the park’s car park in 2002/4 without consultation or notice (the planning permission was entitled ‘Single Storey Extension’) to the residents (and contrary to their planning permission at LBB planning portal page)

Practical Management Plan for the Year

Paying attention to –
• Growing seasons
• Wildlife disruption

Key:
LBB – London Borough of Bromley
IDV – Idverde
FOHR – Friends of Havelock Recreation Ground

9. Site Management

Please see the idverde statement in appendix A6.
Other parks in the town ward have bi-monthly meetings with their park officer. This sounds like it would be a useful thing to have for our park too; perhaps every six months?

10. Sustainability

Please see the idverde statement on sustainability, in appendix A11

11. Document review and site / work review

The friends would welcome a regular meeting to inspect park, troubleshoot issues, and review the plan. Other ward parks meet with their park officer on a monthly basis, but as the Friends consists principally of volunteers who hold full time jobs (or are working around the needs of small children and/or school runs), it might be more practical to meet 3-monthly (if that is possible).
This document is expected to last for 10 years, but it is felt that it should be reviewed, updated, and amended every two years. This would then incorporate any changing situations.

A list of everything in the document

The Table of Contents in the document, which can be downloaded as .pdf here: Havelock Rec Management Plan v1 Nov2018 lowres

HAVELOCK RECREATION GROUND 1
1. The Park. 1
2. About This Plan 2
3. Demographics 3
4. History and Heritage 4
5. Social Links 5
6. Summary of improvements since 2015 5
7. Policy and Strategic Context 6
8. Plans to improve the park: 6
9. Site Management 12
10. Sustainability 12
11. Document review and site / work review 12
Appendices: 14
Appendix A1: Analysis of Survey Results: 15
The full text answers to “What would you particularly not want to see in the park?” 17
Appendix A2: Friends of Havelock Rec Vision Statement: 18
Appendix A3: Biodiversity Report from 2015: 19
Appendix A4: Analysis of 2011 census data from Streetcheck: 21
Appendix A5: Example of a joint monitoring inspection sheet. 25
Appendix A6. iDverde’s management procedures & plan: 25
Appendix A7 – Policy and Strategic Context 27 Promote Healthy Communities 27
Appendix A8.1 – Map of Local Park and the local Green Space Deficiency 30
Appendix A8.2 – Entry for Havelock Rec in the Draft Local Plan: 31
Appendix A9 – London Borough of Bromley Biodiversity and Arboriculture: 32
Appendix A10 – iDverde statement on park users and staff: 34
Appendix A11 – Idverde’s Sustainability policy 37
Appendix A12- Idverde’s Foreword & Introduction 37

Our Privacy Statement

Posted on December 9, 2018 by Kerry Hood

We respect your data. If you add your email to our mailing list, then we will use it in Mailchimp and Excel worksheets. We will not share it except when the UK Law requires us to.

Our Mission Statement

Posted on December 9, 2018 by Kerry Hood

Friends of Havelock Recreation Ground – our Purpose and Objectives are:

Maintain the open vistas and big skies of the park
The park should be about freedom not restriction. Let the wide-open spaces be used by the community in ways that they desire.
Try and increase the natural diversity of the park, but not detracting from points 1 & 2
Make the park a more rewarding experience for our visitors
Work under the supervision of the council* to maintain the park in good order and to try and achieve the objectives highlighted in the previous points

Our Constitution

Posted on December 9, 2018 by Kerry Hood

Constitution of Friends of Havelock Recreation Ground

ARTICLE 1 : NAME AND LEGAL STATUS

The name of the organisation shall be The Friends of Havelock Recreation Ground

The legal status of the Group is an unincorporated “not for profit” organisation where its Committee

members are responsible for any contracts entered into.

The Group shall operate in the area known as Havelock Recreation Ground (the “Park”)

ARTICLE 2 : AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims and objectives of the Group will be as follows:

To help with practical conservation through voluntary action for the benefit of wildlife and the community under the supervision of the London Borough of Bromley (LBB) and its professional officers.

To help to secure and promote the conservation and protection of the Park. To monitor its plants animals and wildlife habitats and maintain and improve its biodiversity.

To promote its use as a place for quiet, informal enjoyment, recreation and study.

To assist in providing an educational experience for the general public in the history, natural history and biodiversity of the Park.

With a view to maintaining a sound financial base and seeking other funding or donations to further activities which meet the above aims and objectives.

ARTICLE 3 : POWERS

To further these aims and objectives the committee shall have the power to:

Obtain, collect and receive money or funds by way of contributions, donations, grants and any other lawful method towards the aims of the Group.

Associate with LBB, voluntary organisations and those with an interest in the Park in a common effort to carry out the aims of the Group.

Permit the Committee to enter into contractual arrangements. To have its own bank account.

Do all such lawful things as will further the aims of the Group.

ARTICLE 4 : MEMBERSHIP

Membership will be open to anyone interested in promoting the aims of the Group. Applicants for membership shall normally become members upon submission of their application form or email address.

Membership will be for one year from the date of the annual meeting. There will be one level of membership known as ‘household’ and this will be free of any subscription. There will be no pre-set minimum amount for any voluntary donation.

Membership will entitle each individual in the household over the age of 16 the right to vote.

The continuation of free subscription levels shall be determined and/or varied by the Management Committee and confirmed annually.

At its discretion the Management Committee may refuse to admit an applicant or to terminate the membership of any member provided that they give written reasons to the member. This may arise as it becomes apparent that a household does not share the Group’s aims and objectives.

ARTICLE 5 : MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

A Management Committee elected annually at the Annual General Meeting shall manage the Group.

The committee shall consist of a minimum of 3 without a maximum number of individuals and shall include a chair, secretary and treasurer.

The committee may co-opt additional committee members during the year

All Committee members shall retire at each Annual General Meeting although may offer themselves for re-election.

The committee shall meet at least three times each year. Representatives of the London Borough of Bromley shall be invited to attend committee meetings in an advisory capacity.

The Chairman will have a second and casting vote.

Two committee members or one third of the committee being present (whichever is the higher) shall enable the business of the Group to be carried out.

A proper record of all transactions and meetings shall be kept.

All Committee members must be members of the Group.

ARTICLE 6 : FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Monies raised from voluntary donations, sale of goods, gifts, other sources or grants awarded to the Group shall be used for the express purposes of pursuing the aims and objectives of the Group.

The funds shall be paid into an account operated by the management committee. All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of the Management Committee.

The Management Committee is empowered, to pursue or make applications for grants to secure funds to support the Group’s planned activities and may take whatever steps are necessary to meet the requirements of the awarding bodies.

No persons representing the Group shall make or enter into any agreement with any persons or organisation that may incur a financial liability save for those purposes as agreed by the Management Committee as necessary to carry out the objectives of the Group.

A current record of all income, funding and expenditure will be kept and presented to members annually at the AGM.

ARTICLE 7 : EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT

Any organisation is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. This commitment extends to our volunteers and we welcome everyone from our community as a volunteer.

We will not discriminate against our volunteers on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, disability or impairment, age, race, creed, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, trade union activity, HIV or marital status, religion or belief or similar bases.

Furthermore, we value difference, and recognise the value that the different backgrounds, skills, outlooks and experiences of our volunteers bring to the Group.

ARTICLE 8 : GENERAL MEETINGS

An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held within 15 months of the date of the adoption of this constitution and each year thereafter.

Notice of the AGM shall be given at least 21 days before the meeting and a report on the Group’s financial position for the previous year will be made available at the same time.

The AGM agenda will include formal business as follows:

– Minutes of the previous AGM

– Chairman’s report

– Treasurer’s statement including, independently examined accounts (e.g. two ordinary members elected at the previous AGM)

– Election of Management Committee members for the following year. Nominations for Management Committee members shall be received by the Secretary before the published date of the AGM. Nominations shall be supported by two members and signed by the nominee indicating willingness to serve.

Review of this constitution, as necessary

The activities of the Group shall be approved at the AGM.

Decisions needing a vote shall be decided by a simple majority of those members present, the Chairman having a second and casting vote.

Voting rights shall be restricted to members of the Group over the age of 16 years and each member shall have one vote.

An Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called at any time at the request of the committee. A notice explaining the place, date, time and reason shall be sent to all members at least three weeks beforehand.

A minimum of two committee members plus one tenth of the membership being present shall enable a General Meeting to take place.

Open General Meetings (i.e. meetings which may include members of the general public and not necessarily sole members of the Group) should be held every three to four months. These would include a general discussion on progress of the Group and how well it is meeting its aims and objectives.

ARTICLE 9 : AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the constitution can only be made at the AGM or EGM. Proposed amendments must be circulated at least 21 days before the Meeting at which they are to be considered, and must be approved by a majority of those members present.

ARTICLE 10 : DISSOLUTION

The Group may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a simple two-thirds majority of those present and voting at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting.

After the payment of all bills and other liabilities and the fulfilment of any requirements of any external bodies e.g. grant providers, the committee shall distribute any assets remaining to other group(s) or organisation(s) having aims similar to the Group or some other charitable purpose(s) as the Group may decide.

Under no circumstance should any assets of the Group be paid or shared out amongst members of the Group.

LBB and any body external funding organisation must be provided with accounts and other documentation as they require.

Our Vision

Posted on December 9, 2018 by Kerry Hood

Friends of Havelock Recreation Ground

OUR VISION

1. Maintain the open vistas and big skies of the park

2. The park should be about freedom not restriction. Let the wide open spaces be used by the community in ways that they desire.

3. Try and increase the natural diversity of the park, but not detracting from points 1 & 2

4. Make the park a more rewarding experience for our visitors

5. Work under the supervision of the council* to maintain the park in good order and to try and achieve the objectives highlighted in the previous points

*the professional officers of the London Borough of Bromley (LBB)