Tuesday, 4 September 2018
Monday, 6 August 2018
plum pruning and pocket plum
Not many people are aware of the small fruit bed which is tended by volunteers from Friends of Mayow Park not far from the cafe and near the water fountain. Look and you will find a Victoria Plum tree and a Jonagold apple.
Last year some of the fruits on the plum showed signs of Pocket Plum. This year it suffered more.
According to the RHS:
Pocket plum is a fungal infection of the young fruits of plums, damsons and some ornamental species, causing them to develop abnormally, without stones.
This is caused by a fungus Taphrina pruni The fruits often develop a bent banana shape. There is no current chemical-free treatment. To control the disease all fruits and infected branches need to be removed before spored develop.
Unfortunately, though some fruits were removed early in the season, we did not pay enough attention to this tree.
Two volunteers arrived at 9am this morning 6th August, to give some positive attention to the plum tree. The sun was already blazing down and we wanted to finish before the day became too hot.
We pruned branches which had diseased fruit, removing all prunings from the site. We also removed a branch growing at ground level below the graft union, which was clearly not the same tree variety.
All tools were disinfected.
Next year we need to be very vigilant early in the season.
Last year some of the fruits on the plum showed signs of Pocket Plum. This year it suffered more.
According to the RHS:
Pocket plum is a fungal infection of the young fruits of plums, damsons and some ornamental species, causing them to develop abnormally, without stones.
This is caused by a fungus Taphrina pruni The fruits often develop a bent banana shape. There is no current chemical-free treatment. To control the disease all fruits and infected branches need to be removed before spored develop.
Unfortunately, though some fruits were removed early in the season, we did not pay enough attention to this tree.
Two volunteers arrived at 9am this morning 6th August, to give some positive attention to the plum tree. The sun was already blazing down and we wanted to finish before the day became too hot.
We pruned branches which had diseased fruit, removing all prunings from the site. We also removed a branch growing at ground level below the graft union, which was clearly not the same tree variety.
All tools were disinfected.
Next year we need to be very vigilant early in the season.
tractor mows meadow
The annual hay-making meadow-cutting in Mayow Park took place this morning 6th August 2018, discreetly and without fanfare around 9.30am. A lovely sight on a hot morning. You could imagine you are out of town in a rural setting.
How many people noticed?
How many people noticed?
Monday, 9 July 2018
Splendid day for a lark in the park part 2
The Lark in the Park event on 30th June this year celebrated 140 years since Mayow Park was opened to the public, in 1878. Some people dressed up and some stalls included a Victorian theme though this was not obligatory.
Numerous community groups were respresented with stalls and there was plenty to do at the event.
Voluntary Services Lewisham, Forest Hill Society and Friends of Mayow Park were there.
Food for the masses was provided by Min Albi (meaning Food from the Heart'), helping Syrian refugees in South London to use their cooking skills to gain work experience and entrepreneurial independence.
Opposite their food stall was the Women's Institute gazebo with some of their delicious cakes available to buy.
Forest Hill Society hosted the Lewisham Swifts group, raising awareness that swift numbers are in decline and how we can help these amazing birds.
The local Perry Vale Safer Neighbourhood Team was on hand to offer advice.
Dr Bike gave tips and help on caring for your bike.
Free tennis was on offer at the tennis courts. Young children were catered for with a bouncy castle and soft play area.
Sydenham Arts provided musical activities in the bowls green.
Brown and Green cafe was open for business as usual.
Usborne Books had a stall which included Victorian toys.
Mayows Mutts, a local group of dogs with their owners, had a dog parade with raffle prizes.
The Friends of Mayow Park stall had a few Victorian activities aimed at children. Children could play quoits, practice skipping with skipping ropes and learn to play hopscotch using chalked markings on the tarmac path.
If that was not enough, they could make Victorian-style brooches.
They could also make thaumatropes. We called them 'spinners' for simplicity.
More on thaumatropes can be found on this website:
http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/exhibits/fancy-names-and-fun-toys/thaumatropes/
Every child that took part in an activity received a paper bag printed with pictures of Victorian objects and containing loose sweets; no plastic bags or plastic-wrapped sweets 140 years ago.
Children also received an additional gift of a small Victorian-style slate board and pencil.
Opposite their food stall was the Women's Institute gazebo with some of their delicious cakes available to buy.
Forest Hill Society hosted the Lewisham Swifts group, raising awareness that swift numbers are in decline and how we can help these amazing birds.
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| Forest Hill Society and Lewisham Swifts |
Dr Bike gave tips and help on caring for your bike.
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| Dr Bike and local Police. photo S Hatchard |
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| Bouncy castle fun - photo S Hatchard |
Brown and Green cafe was open for business as usual.
Usborne Books had a stall which included Victorian toys.
Mayows Mutts, a local group of dogs with their owners, had a dog parade with raffle prizes.
The Friends of Mayow Park stall had a few Victorian activities aimed at children. Children could play quoits, practice skipping with skipping ropes and learn to play hopscotch using chalked markings on the tarmac path.
If that was not enough, they could make Victorian-style brooches.
They could also make thaumatropes. We called them 'spinners' for simplicity.
More on thaumatropes can be found on this website:
http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/exhibits/fancy-names-and-fun-toys/thaumatropes/
Every child that took part in an activity received a paper bag printed with pictures of Victorian objects and containing loose sweets; no plastic bags or plastic-wrapped sweets 140 years ago.
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| Paper bag for sweets |
Research for these Victorian related activities was carried out by Pippa, one of the active members of Friends of Mayow Park.
The whole event seemed to go very well. Thank you to Perry Vale ward for organising this enjoyable community event.
The whole event seemed to go very well. Thank you to Perry Vale ward for organising this enjoyable community event.
Monday, 2 July 2018
Splendid day for a lark in the park Part 1
What a splendid day it was for a lark in the park in Mayow Park on Saturday 30th June 2018.
The event was organised by Lewisham Council's Perry Vale ward as a community event and community stalls were there in numbers. The event joined forces with Sydenham Arts who held their activities in the bowls green so the park was buzzing. So many people smiling in the sunshine.
Community groups came to set up at 11am and public events began at midday.
A Victorian theme ran through for some of the stalls in recognition of the 140th anniversary since the opening of Mayow Park to the public in June 1878.
For the Friends of Mayow Park it was also an excuse for a double celebration. The group (formerly known as Mayow Park Users' Group) held their very first official meeting in April 1993 and have been going for 25 years.
In recognition of this double anniversary, Friends of Mayow Park (FOMP) set up their stall to face the Victorian water fountain. The monument commemorates the Rev William Taylor Jones who kick-started the process that was to lead to the creation of Sydenham Public Recreation Ground, later renamed Mayow Park. While the fountain no longer works, it stands as a proud memorial to the origins of the park.
Our gazebo was installed in a jiffy and soon all were busy preparing the table, signs and activities.
Children's Victorian art and craft activities were part of the FOMP offer and two young people took on much of the work to reach out to members of the public.
The FOMP stall displayed a number of items that might be of interest to visitors:
- an article from the Sydenham Society Summer 2018 newsletter, written by Steve Grindlay and explaining the creation of Mayow Park.
- Walk on the Wild Side map of the park showing just a few of the significant trees
And a scrap book that FOMP volunteers are putting together called 'Mayow Park Memories'. The front cover is a copy of an original painting by local artist Darren Russell Hayman.
More about this event to follow.
The event was organised by Lewisham Council's Perry Vale ward as a community event and community stalls were there in numbers. The event joined forces with Sydenham Arts who held their activities in the bowls green so the park was buzzing. So many people smiling in the sunshine.
Community groups came to set up at 11am and public events began at midday.
A Victorian theme ran through for some of the stalls in recognition of the 140th anniversary since the opening of Mayow Park to the public in June 1878.
For the Friends of Mayow Park it was also an excuse for a double celebration. The group (formerly known as Mayow Park Users' Group) held their very first official meeting in April 1993 and have been going for 25 years.
In recognition of this double anniversary, Friends of Mayow Park (FOMP) set up their stall to face the Victorian water fountain. The monument commemorates the Rev William Taylor Jones who kick-started the process that was to lead to the creation of Sydenham Public Recreation Ground, later renamed Mayow Park. While the fountain no longer works, it stands as a proud memorial to the origins of the park.
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| Putting up the bunting (photo S Hatchard) |
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| Victorian fountain with bunting (photo S Hatchard) |
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| Getting stall ready (photo A Sheridan) |
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| Gazebo up (photo A Sheridan) |
Children's Victorian art and craft activities were part of the FOMP offer and two young people took on much of the work to reach out to members of the public.
 |
| Victorian brooch making activity (photo P Moss) |
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| brooch-making preparations (photo P Moss) |
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| Sue and Sandra prepare the thaumatrope activity (photo P Moss) |
- an article from the Sydenham Society Summer 2018 newsletter, written by Steve Grindlay and explaining the creation of Mayow Park.
- Walk on the Wild Side map of the park showing just a few of the significant trees
And a scrap book that FOMP volunteers are putting together called 'Mayow Park Memories'. The front cover is a copy of an original painting by local artist Darren Russell Hayman.
Thursday, 28 June 2018
LARK IN THE PARK 2018
Mayow Park is located in Perry Vale ward in the London Borough of Lewisham. The annual Lark in the Park community event will take place this year on Saturday 30th June. Free entry. All welcome.
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
TREE-MENDOUS TREES in June
A warm, pleasant evening and over 40 people came on our tree walk round the park on Friday 22nd June at 7pm. We walked round seeking some of the less well-known trees as well as recognising the old, familiar characters. Parkland ornamentals as well as veterans make the trees of Mayow Park so special.
So that children would have a focus (there were about 8 children there) a sheet with 12 tree names was handed to them. They had to find the trees as we walked round, give the trees a hug or try a bark rubbing, and remember the names of the trees they found. For each tree they received a nature stamp on their sheet.
We came to the black walnut tree Juglans nigra, planted in 1994 by the Friends of Mayow Park (known at that time as Mayow Park Users' group). A non-native tree, it can grow to over 30 metres high. It needs plenty of light and prefers a fertile soil.
Further along the meadow is the black poplar Populas nigra, donated and planted in 2012 by Glendale (the park contractors) to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne. Black poplars can live up to 200 years and this is a native tree. There are other poplars in the park whose age we can only guess at and there was some debate about whether they had been planted before Mayow Park was created.
The majestic evergreen Cedar of Lebanon, originating from Lebanon and the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, stands proudly looking down hill from its vantage point near the De Frene Road entrance.
We found Monkey Puzzle trees and lovely limes, a golden weeping willow and strong hornbeams.
A holm oak which has been a popular climbing tree through the generations. People now in their 40s and 50s bring their own children back to the park to share memories of this tree.
Horse chestnut is still a popular tree in autumn when children gather its conkers. How many can you find in the park?
Plenty of maples were planted in the park in the past, along the path edges. Some have thrown up suckers and look more like maple bushes than trees. One has formed a den much loved by young children.
We must not forget the wonderful veteran English oaks, Quercus robur, many of which were pollarded in bygone days. These are all older than the park and may have once been part of field boundary hedgerows. They are affectionately known as the boundary oaks. This park has more than 20 such trees. Very old trees like these are valuable for wildlife. They contain dead wood particularly good for many beetles whose larvae feed on dead wood. Holes also make good homes for nesting birds and small mammals.
A copper beech, a blue cedar, a tulip tree and a tall Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostrboides, are some of the other specials in the park. To appreciate the dawn redwood in all its glory it is worth getting close up, to see the bark and the leaves. This is a deciduous conifer, shedding its leaves every autumn.
So that children would have a focus (there were about 8 children there) a sheet with 12 tree names was handed to them. They had to find the trees as we walked round, give the trees a hug or try a bark rubbing, and remember the names of the trees they found. For each tree they received a nature stamp on their sheet.
We came to the black walnut tree Juglans nigra, planted in 1994 by the Friends of Mayow Park (known at that time as Mayow Park Users' group). A non-native tree, it can grow to over 30 metres high. It needs plenty of light and prefers a fertile soil.
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| Black walnut |
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| Black poplar |
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| Majestic Cedar of Lebanon |
We found Monkey Puzzle trees and lovely limes, a golden weeping willow and strong hornbeams.
A holm oak which has been a popular climbing tree through the generations. People now in their 40s and 50s bring their own children back to the park to share memories of this tree.
Horse chestnut is still a popular tree in autumn when children gather its conkers. How many can you find in the park?
Plenty of maples were planted in the park in the past, along the path edges. Some have thrown up suckers and look more like maple bushes than trees. One has formed a den much loved by young children.
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| Maple den |
We must not forget the wonderful veteran English oaks, Quercus robur, many of which were pollarded in bygone days. These are all older than the park and may have once been part of field boundary hedgerows. They are affectionately known as the boundary oaks. This park has more than 20 such trees. Very old trees like these are valuable for wildlife. They contain dead wood particularly good for many beetles whose larvae feed on dead wood. Holes also make good homes for nesting birds and small mammals.
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| One of the wonderful pollarded oaks |
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| Dawn Redwood |
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