expand the orchard - March 2016 part 1

We were about to plant six more fruit trees and one bush to add to the eleven other fruit trees planted in January 2012 in the Mayow Park community orchard.

 It was time for a brief reflection back to the original orchard idea and how the orchard has developed  over the past four years. 

Before the original planting on the site there had been no fruit trees. Lewisham Council Greenscene had supported FOMP to create a new orchard and helped us to select the most suitable site in the park. We worked with the London Orchard Project (which has since become the Urban Orchard Project) to choose trees and we gathered sponsors from the local community.

Choosing the site - a slope for good drainage, sunshine, space between existing trees

Newly planted fruit trees in January 2012, carefully mulched and protected by tree guards

Back to the present - March 2016.

Planning began in autumn 2015 when it was agreed among FOMP members that we would plant four more apple trees already acquired and in containers. We chose the date, 5^th March 2016, in anticipation that the worst of the winter would be past. 

Having been in contact with the Urban Orchard Project about our plans, we found that the Mayow Park orchard could be part of a national initiative called ‘Helping Britain Blossom’. This is a partnership between the Urban Orchard Project (UOP), Heineken and Bulmers. Rather than planting four trees it was suggested we have six or seven. And so we decided to add a quince, a cherry and an Autumn Olive (Eleagnus Commutata).

Planning was under way. Lewisham Council Greenscene gave approval and Lewisham’s tree officer visited to check the site. We are grateful for their help and support in developing an orchard for the community.  Glendale, (who manage most of the parks in the borough), also supported this expansion.

The weather forecast was for a rainy day, but the planting would have to go ahead anyway.

Yet the morning began fine and sunny, a clear sky. We could but hope that it would continue. Alas, change came and by the time we gathered to prepare tools and trees the rain had come. A quick dash home was needed for some of the group, to get waterproofs and Wellington boots.

Mayow Park orchard planting

Six more trees will be planted. Come and join us on 5th March

Planting in Mayow community orchard 5th March 2016

Come along to the Mayow Park orchard, opposite the tennis courts, on Saturday 5th March 2016.
The Friends of Mayow Park will be working alongside the Urban Orchard project to add six more fruit trees to the orchard planted in January 2012. This will bring the total number of fruit trees to seventeen. Over the next decade these trees will mature and provide a great orchard for the community to enjoy

We are looking for individuals and families to adopt and care for each of the new trees, particularly during the spring and summer. No experience is necessary as we can show you what to do. Key maintenance activities include watering regularly, weeding and mulching  and children enjoy lending a hand with these tasks. And of course there is the bonus of fresh fruit!
Here are some reasons for having an orchard in our park:

• Trees help with carbon reduction by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the orchard trees will be in the park for many years
• Providing additional fruit trees in the park will help nature conservation, particularly as the orchard matures
• Through our work sessions open to park users, the community will be able to learn skills for managing fruit trees including pruning, mulching and checking tree health

    

FOMP AGM and General Meeting Saturday 30th Jan 2016

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: this will be on Saturday 30th January 2016. It will be held at the bowls green in the main cabin.
Start time 10.30 am, finish 11 am. The AGM will aim to approve the Minutes of the AGM 2015,  receive officer reports about the past year and elect officers for 2016

            

                                           AGM  A G E N D A

1.             Welcome and Apologies

2.             Approval of AGM Minutes dated 24^th January 2015

3.             FOMP reports:

4.        Election of Officers     

5.      Any other business relating to the AGM 

This will be followed by our quarterly general meeting from 11 am to finish by 12.30 pm. refreshments of tea, coffee and biscuits will be available. Park users are welcome to attend top join in the discussions.

GENERAL MEETING AGENDA

1.       Welcome and apologies

2.       Agree Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 13th October 2015

3.       Matters arising which are not included in the Agenda for today

4.       Guest speaker – cycling in Mayow Park

5.       Guest visit  from Glendale parks operative

6.       General discussion about   2016 to include a)       Planned  events and dates                            b)      Ideas for future events and dates suggestions                                     c)       Sports  facilities, state of the park, hopes for 2016, general discussion d)      Partnerships , Note paper will be available for your ideas and interests.

7.       AOB & Date of next meeting.   Meeting to end 12.30 pm

Nature's Gym volunteers work wonders

Weather plays an important part when there is gardening to do so it was a great relief that today, 17h September 2015, turned out dry, relatively warm and with some sun. Nature’s Gym volunteers and staff returned to Mayow Park and there must have been 15 people in total. 

As always there was more than plenty to do. Most of the work was based at the Triangle fruit and herb beds but a few volunteers worked at the orchard and bug hotel.

The orchard saw a team removing weeds round the base of the trees and adding a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and look after the tree roots. 

The bug hotel in the nearby woodland had more woody material added to the pallets to create a cosy environment for our park invertebrates ahead of the winter. Would it be cosy enough to attract a hedgehog or two?  

One of the volunteers did a grand job of cutting down the mini wild flower meadow with shears and we plan to sow more wild flowers in late autumn in the hope of a colourful display next spring and summer.

In the Triangle, the hedgerow round the fruit garden had become untidy with branches stretching over the woodchip path, hindering movement. This has now been pruned. The woodchip path has been raked in an effort to remove weeds growing in it. And the herb bed has had serious attention to remove bindweed which is gradually taking over available bare earth.

hedgerow pruned  to allow access to the path

Richard raking the woodchip path

Meet Gary and Gary

All this work generates plenty of garden waste. Glendale’s cleansing team were able to assist by taking it away.

Some of the team

As always these sessions are not only about serious gardening. 

There is time to relax and catch up on news during tea/ lunch break. 

And home time means packing tools back in the van.

Packing up time

The impact of all this work should be clearly visible to all. The Friends of Mayow Park are very grateful for the regular support we receive from Nature’s Gym volunteers.

This photo was taken the following day.

 

Looking after the cricket square in Mayow Park

Cricket has made a come-back in Lewisham. Two of its parks, Mayow Park and Hilly Fields, have cricket squares.  Special care is necessary to maintain the squares to a high standard for the cricketers. One man who knows a lot about taking care of these sites is Luke Rayment and I had the good fortune to interview him about his work in mid-September 2015. 

Luke has worked for Glendale Lewisham Grounds Management since 2010 as their cricket groundsman and you may spot him working on site during the cricket season.

Luke maintains the cricket squares in both parks in readiness for weekly matches. His role includes cutting the grass to a specified height, rolling the wickets with a roller machine and marking out the lines in white paint.  He also carries out repairs to the wicket which involves spreading loam and levelling out the site each week. 

Prior to working for Glendale, Luke worked for 11 years to maintain the greens at a golf course. During that time he studied part-time at Hadlow College near Tunbridge Wells for his NVQ2 with training in sports turf management. He enjoyed his work but wanted to move on for his personal professional development.  

When he first started with Glendale he worked alongside two very experienced groundsmen and learned a lot from them. He has attended a number of other courses including Level 1 and Level 2 Foundation training through the English Cricket Board (ECB) where he improved his skills to maintain a cricket square. 

He finds this work very satisfying particularly when he can see the impact he makes on the cricket square. He appreciates the positive feedback he receives from Glendale Lewisham managers, one of whom is a cricket fan.  Park users also show their interest with comments about cricket in Mayow Park and compliments about Luke’s work.

Occasionally he is disappointed by thoughtless behaviour from the public, particularly when people walk across the cricket square, play football and other activities which cause damage. They are not aware of the effort and care that goes into maintaining the site. Fortunately in Mayow Park this is rare.

Luke’s work in our park is special and his satisfaction with what he does is wonderful. Now I know why he always looks cheerful. Thank you, Luke. 

meadow grass cut 19th August 2015

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago. On 19th August I was hurrying through the park on my way to catch a train but stopped briefly to take two photos of a tractor cutting the long grass in the meadow. It gives Mayow Park a rural feel I think.  I believe the grass in the meadow won't be cut again until spring 2016.