Bat Walk 2nd April 2016

We don't know if there are bats in Mayow Park but the old oaks have plenty of potential bat roosts. Join us to find out. Do let us know if you hope to be there; it will  help the walk leader manage the sharing out of bat monitoring equipment.

The orchard - photos taken on a sunny day

The day following our orchard planting was a better day for photos. These two photos show a mix of our trees planted in 2012 and the new ones, with the shiny new guards, planted yesterday.
We have five tree adopters (of which two are families) who will look after these trees for the next three years. In the future, park users will be able to join in harvest celebrations for the community orchard in Mayow Park.

Expanding the orchard - part 2

We gathered at the orchard to plant more trees on 5^th March 2016  - in the rain.  Members of the Friends of Mayow Park  brought wheelbarrows with our four apple trees, still in their containers, ready to be planted.

But apples really don’t like very wet ground. The ground round the orchard had become extremely soft after a very wet winter and we had quite a task to find spaces that were a little less muddy on this heavy clay soil. 

When we planted the original orchard trees back in January 2012 the site seemed ideal with its gentle slope from the south side downwards towards the main park. Over the last couple of years however the soil surface has changed due to excess rain.

Ryan from the Urban Orchard Project brought the cherry, the quince and the autumn olive. He brought spades, tree guards, stakes and hard hats. We were ready to dig and the rain stopped for a while. The damp weather had put off some people but we had enough volunteers to make this a fun event.

Finding the best place for the Core Blimey apple tree

Sue checked the hole she had just dug

More hole digging 

Ryan explained about planting with the graft union above the soil.

Holes were dug, trees were planted and it was time to put in the stakes. Notice the stylish hard hats to prevent any head injuries when the stakes were driven into the ground.

Will, Lucy and Ryan work out the best place for the stake

Lucy and Will hammer in the stake. This is a job for tall people!

Jon hammers down a stake

Jon checks the height of the stake against one of the tree guards

The next step was to attach the tree guards to the stakes. Ryan in his hi-vis jacket and hard hat demonstrated  on one tree while we looked on. Then everyone went to the other trees to attach guards to stakes. 
We stopped for a tea break with biscuits, pitta bread, houmous and crisps. The youngest  little people among our group enjoyed that!  Glendale (the company that manages the park on behalf of Lewisham) had kindly allowed us access to the cabin at the bowls green where we could make the tea.

Ryan demonstrating putting up a guard. View  across park to the flats beyond.

When the stakes were in, every tree was given a deep blanket of mulch. 

Mulch has an important role to play in an orchard:

It suppresses weeds which might otherwise compete with tree roots for nutrients

It provides a visible reminder to gardeners not to mow or strim too close to the trees

It keeps the soil from drying our too quickly in the summer, 

It enables water to filter slowly down to the roots, 

As fungi rot down the mulch, they help nutrients to go down to the tree roots

Saffron and Lucy fixing the guard to the stake

Task completed

The rain returned, mixed with hail and we beat a hasty retreat. Photos of the completed orchard had to be taken the following day.  

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