London Fields User Group

First the good news, we have actually received a grant from Team London, the Reuben Foundation and Mayor of London, for planting native Bluebells & Ramsons bulbs in the wooded area, wildflower meadow seeds along some of the edge strips and a small orchard on London Fields. These are all at present being ordered. We will be discussing the planting at our next meeting on 25/1/12 and shall be looking for lots of volunteers to do the planting. We will have more information for you by the meeting. This will help to make our park so much more interesting and increase the biodiversity.

Now the bad news. We have been informed that with the increasing government cutbacks to councils, that the Park Keepers Lodge proposals had been discussed and could no longer be afforded. They now confirm the Council’s intention in the next few weeks, to seek planning permission for the demolition of the redundant park keeper’s lodge. “The building is no longer required for the management of the park and the Council believes that it should take action before the building falls into further disrepair. You will be aware that the building has recently been re-secured after being occupied by squatters. It continues to be an eyesore to the park and represents a risk to local community safety” “Demolition of the existing building would not preclude the Council from considering a proposal funded from the community or a local business but this would also need common land approval.” I think that the fencing around the lodge could be kept for the moment, as it would be an ideal position for a mobile café, like the one in Clissold Park. London Fields could really do with a decent café like that, especially at the weekends and public holidays.

Now that we have a Facebook page our supporters and friends of the park can make reports of any concerns, suggestions, sightings of wildlife and generally keep in touch with other friends of London Fields. You can also invite your friends to join in. And if you have interesting pictures of sports, swimming, children at play and other interesting activities, send them to me to add to the picture album.

Oct 2011 Newletter

Minutes of LFUG meeting Wed 28th September at The Pub On The Park and October Newsletter

Present: Mike M; Louise T; Tom D; Bruce Irving – Parks Development Officer

Apologies: Al H; Martin C; Mike D; Liv T.

MUGA

Bruce informed us that the MUGA (the multi use games area) had at last recently been started by the construction firm. This is after over ten years in waiting for it. It was originally specified as part of the plan to remove the enormous, derelict, black fenced sports area that only appeared to be used at the end of its life, by people as an enormous dog toilet. He also told us that the rest of the hard red sand (redgra) that is left of the original 1920’s sports field, is going to be properly grassed over in the spring.

Park Keepers Lodge

We next went on to discuss the Park Keepers Lodge. I had had a discussion with some high level council officers in July about our proposals and this was further discussed at our previous meetings. We further discussed the possibilities with this. Tom, who is an architect, had prepared a sketch for us for a replacement building. This was based on available continental, prefabricated buildings, which had a zero carbon footprint, while the design was reduced to get within the £90k. costing. See plan and elevation PDFs attached and the sketch below.

We are now awaiting further news. If the MUGA is anything to go by, we cant expect anything soon. We continued discussing some minor concerns, but nothing else of great concern. With the low turnout there were fewer than normal questions. We look forward to further news for you all. The MUGA is now completed in the corner of its field with its new floodlighting. It actually looks quite small in its corner and with the 2m high green fencing it is hardly conspicuous. What with the nearby trees and the green shrubs they are going to plant around it, it will be hardly noticeable. The marking of the asphalt have yet to be done.

Table Tennis Stars!

Some local table tennis players are starting a campaign to collect funding for further tables in our Park. The present lone table is so well used and the demand is so great for more tables. They want to use the tables for playing tournaments in the park. Outdoor Ping-Pong has long been popular over most of Europe and is now becoming popular all over London. I was invited to a meeting last week to meet the supporters. They will be holding some competitive indoor Ping-Pong matches over the road at Netil House, in Westgate Street, latter in the year, with as many as 12 tables at a time playing, as part of the campaign to get funding for extra outdoor tables. I will let you all know when all the arrangements are finally made.

Biodiversity in the Park

Now that the council has a Biodiversity organisation for the parks and open spaces, http://www.hackney.gov.uk/biodiversity.htm I was invited to meet Ruth, a biodiversity assistant in London Fields to discuss what could be done to promote its biodiversity, animals, plants and fungy. They are at present trying to get funding for Bulbs and Wild Flower seeds and possibly Native Tree Species. She is also looking into the Orchard proposal for parks, which may be partly funded. As usual we have to wait for the funding before anything can happen.

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Jan 2011 Newletter

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