Orchard fruit tree pruning workshops early 2024

We held FOUR fruit tree pruning workshops in the Mayow Park orchard starting end of January and with our last session on 10th Feb 2024. Why four? A number of people asked to take part and we chose dates to accommodate them. This gave us small working groups so we got to share our skills and  knowledge. Some people had no previous pruning experience and others had a lot. Some people were surprised to learn that it is best to prune stone fruit (cherries, plums etc) in summer as winter pruning can make them more susceptible to silver leaf fungal infections. All sessions were led by Alona.

We started by looking at tools, how we use them safely and tool care; anvil and bypass secateurs, telescopic fruit tree pruners, loppers, saws.  We shared info on hygiene when pruning and why mulching our trees is a good idea. 

We looked closely at some of the trees to check for 3 Ds (dead, damaged, diseased), and 2 Cs (crossing and crowded), talking about which branches to prune and why. Then we got to work, in pairs and under supervision. 

We were lucky with the weather on all four sessions;  despite rain being a daily occurrence we had two dry hours each time. Thank you everyone who came along and joined in.

Susan and Janet

Yogi and Sue

Alex with secateurs

Mike and Sue with a vigorous perry pear

Claudia and Millie with the Core Blimey

Alona with a long-handled pruner

Frank doing formative pruning on the Red Windsor

Jean at work on Conference pear

AS Feb 2024

FEEDBACK ON NEW PLAYGROUND

On the Friends of Mayow Park Facebook group in recent days there have been a number comments, those in praise of the new facilities and those raising concerns  about what some see as a fail.  Such opposite views are bound to happen as parents recall the previous facilities and decide in their minds what they would have chosen. 

There were several playground improvement consultations with park users over the six years from 2017  when parents started campaigning for better facilities: Consultations reached a couple of hundred respondents each time but could  never reach all those people who visit Mayow Park with children. 

A small handful of volunteers researched play equipment and play providers.One applied for funding sources with some success but not as much as they would have liked. Lewisham's parks department (the landowners) approved the campaign. When sufficient funds had been achieved, the plans went out to tender to find a firm to build the playground. This work was overseen by Glendale, the contractors who manage many of Lewisham's parks. The play provider Kompan  won the tender to build the new facilities and used the outcome of the consultations to design the space within the available budget.

For those parents who are disappointed with the new facilities, it would be good to hold a special meeting to hear all opinions and see what additional improvements can be achieved. Such a meeting must be led by the interested parents, in the same way as the playground improvements project was led by parents. Concerns from these parents include apparent lack of facilities for the youngest children, not enough facilities for children with disabilities, more benches for parents and 'why mend what ain't broke'.  Benches were integral to the plans but  funds did not stretch far enough so further fundraising is needed. These and other concerns plus the many positive comments would be on the Agenda if such a special meeting could be convened.

Who wants to find any parents with appropriate skills to pull such a meeting together, inviting various people -  parents, Council officers and park contractors as well as those with previous experience of playground improvement projects. Some of the original plans have not been included in the final design due to funding limits, so there may still be opportunities for further improvements and further fundraising. 

MAYOW PARK PLAYGROUND is open

 In time for the school holidays, the newly rebuilt playground in Mayow Park is open.  Well done to the people from Kompan, the company that won the tender to rebuild. Thanks go to Glendale, the contractor that manages the park on behalf of London Borough of Lewisham.  Thank you to Lewisham's parks department for agreeing to this project. And let's remember that the project would never have got off the ground without the tenacity and determination of Friends of Mayow Park (FOMP). 

FOMP volunteers with young children started a consultation process SIX years ago with other parents. This led to research into most suitable (but not necessarily cheapest) equipment to meet the needs of children - different ages, different physical and different learning needs.  We visited other parks. We looked at equipment from different play providers. One parent offered to work on funding applications - she had a vested interest as she lives nearby and wanted equipment for her children. The pandemic put plans on hold for two years . . . 

We look forward to feedback from  those older children who have waited patiently for this positive outcome.. 

Toddlers up to 11 year olds will be able to climb, slide, spin, balance, explore, create imaginary stories and become pretend characters as they play in and among the new equipment.  

There are still  things to sort out  including a few metres of missing fencing along the back where a tree fell, A bench will be added in time, which will be paid for and donated by Friends of Mayow Park. 

Hopefully other issues that may arise will be small and easily sorted. 

PHOTOS: Note that the four 'mushrooms', the spinner and the circus box office have been retained.

the mushrooms have been kept

The circus box office is still there

And here are a few more photos.

Playground update 11th Dec 2023

 A few photos from today. The equipment is taking shape. 

Latest playground progress photos

 Photos taken on Thursday 7th December 2023 - equipment installation has started. The photos say it all - the playground is beginning to take shape.

Playground rebuild Nov-Dec 2023 part 3 - sharing the news with local children

 The nearest primary school to the park is Adamsrill Primary School.

Sandra the Kompan project manager arranged for Adamsrill School Council students to visit on Monday 4th December. Fifteen pupils from year 1 to year 6, with two members of staff, came to meet Sandra and the construction team, to ask some very good questions about the facilities which would be installed.At this point they could only see a building site but some of the design plans were available on the fences. 

Above all, they wanted to know how long the rebuild would take and they were pleasantly surprised to learn that if the weather is not too harsh and if equipment safety inspections take place, then play could resume before Christmas.  Such good news.

Playground rebuild Nov-Dec 2023 part 2

 After the Covid lockdowns and the re-opening of public spaces, it took time to build momentum and to start the funding applications process again. That same parent with fund-raising ambitions was willing to try again. Other parents came together to offer support but time was the real barrier for working parents. We were fortunate that Lewisham’s park department offered communities a funding opportunity for green spaces and children’s facilities, using the levy they charge developers on building developments.

Our bid to Lewisham was successful but we needed matched funding to achieve a whole-playground rebuild.  Veolia*, the waste management company, had funds  that we were eligible to apply for. . .  And success!

 With sufficient funds sourced, Lewisham could now approve the process for demolition and rebuild. Glendale’s managers put the project out to tender and Kompan** won the contract.  Their overall design included most of the wishes of the parents including access for children in wheelchairs and for children with sensory needs. Some children expressed further wishes to keep a few bits of much-loved play equipment in the under-5s section.

The designs - based on the survey results

And after all the build-up, finally on 29^th November 2023 the demolition started.

 Additional wishes voiced by some parents and which would have been ideal but not practical included new toilet facilities. There are toilets at the eastern side of the park beside the café; but infrastructure to lay water and sewerage services to the western side of the park would not be feasible at this time.

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*Veolia community funding    https://www.veoliatrust.org/funding/

** Kompan     https://www.kompan.com/en/gb