Minutes of Meeting, February 2023

FRIENDS OF MARYON AND MARYON WILSON PARKS

Minutes of Meeting, February 2023

Venue:  Kinveachy Gardens, SE7

Date:  Thursday 2 February 2023

Present: (9) Christine (chair) Steve (secretary), Natalie (treasurer), Catherine, Alan, Mickey, Gulle, Hazel, John.

1. Welcome and Apologies:  In the initial absence of Christine, who was delayed, Steve welcomed members.

Apologies (Jason, Nigel, Ronnie, Rose, Vanessa.   

2. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising

a) The steps into Maryon Park have finally been finished, after the delay caused by vandalism. We were able to push for wet leaves, which had made them very slippery, to be swept away from the steps and the path down to the playground.

b) We received a further complaint from a resident of Woodland Terrace about noise from parties. Paul Martin, the head of Parks Rangers, confirmed this was not coming from the parks. On the same day a local hub reported that the organisers of a rave held last summer in Herringham Road (down towards the Thames Barrier) have applied to the Council for a permanent licence to hold similar parties this year lasting up until 4am. Anyone wishing to comment can contact licensing@royalgreenwich.gov.uk The application number to quote is 15471.

c)We held a walkabout with Claire Lambert from the Council on a very wet day in October, which meant visiting only Maryon Wilson Park, and pointing out a number of issues. Some of these were passed on to Jo Driver, the Council’s tree officer, but we are still waiting to fix a further visit.

d)Richard Gregory, the stockman in Maryon Wilson, has confirmed that tours of the animal pens will resume from Wednesday March 1st at 1pm and continue every Wednesday from then on. These are limited to the first 35 people to arrive. Any local schools interested in their own tour should contact Richard.Gregory@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. A new deer is due to arrive shortly and possibly a stag if finance can be arranged.

3. Parks and Council News 

a) Sadly the Covid remembrance tree in Maryon Park has now fallen victim to vandalism again after being initially uprooted and then replanted. We will ask parks officers whether this has happened in any other of the 22 parks in which trees were planted.

b) GoParks London offered us 50 trees to plant via the Mayor of London but having had little success with previous plantings we declined. New daffodils were not planted this year but last year’s are just beginning to emerge.

c) The Victoria Cross memorial in Maryon Park (between the playground and the main road) is looking much better thanks to the combined efforts of Council workers and Friends members. It needs to be swept clear of leaves from time to time.

d) Having reported several more instances of flytipping on the hill between Kinveachy Gardens and Pound Park Road we have asked the Council to post notices about flytipping penalties on the lampposts there.

4. Treasurer’s Report:

After modest expenditure on new shears, secateurs (two) and gardening gloves, the current balance is £510.33. 

5.Community Garden report:  (attached in full):

All 14 plots have active plot holders, and seeding for the new growing season has begun. 180 schoolchildren from Windrush School use the forest space each week during term time. A professional gardener is now working each week to help develop the garden.

6. Any other business:

The bus stop litter bin by the Cemetery Lane entrance to Maryon Wilson was burnt out twice, which means rubbish is thrown into the park. We are unclear whether responsibility for bins at bus stops lies with the Council or TFL.

The brambles at this entrance need clearing as they are very unsightly and mean it is difficult if not impossible to retrieve the rubbish thrown there.

7. Diary dates:

Clear-Ups: First Saturday of every month from 10am. (March 4th and April 1st).

On Coronation day May 6th it is proposed that we do not hold the scheduled litter-pick but move it back two days and join the national volunteering day on Monday May8th.

Our AGM will be held in the Nellie Raven Room at St Thomas Church, Woodland Terrace, Charlton on Tuesday April 25th at 7.30pm.

Your local councillors will be invited so please make every effort to attend.

Photos and scrapbooks of our 22 year history will be on show and refreshments provided.

Steve Tongue, secretary

Email: FriendsofMaryonparks@gmail.com    

Community Garden report
February 2023
With our coordinator, Edna, back in action the Community Garden is starting a new phase.
The plan is to grow more flowers to help with fundraising.

All 14 plots have active plot holders. We have 3 new plot-holders, with seeding for the new growing season has begun.

Work continues on repairs to the Greenhouse, Green Room, soft fruit cage and the main shelter. The Green Room now has a heater & lighting and been insulated making a comfortable space for Therapy and Art Sessions. Alan Webb has been helping with the winter storm repairs and he repaired the woodland gate. used by schools. that was vandalised during the summer.

We have 180 school children from Windrush school using the Forest School space each week during term time. as well as a child-minders group and a session run by a qualified Forest School leader.

Weekly volunteer sessions, on Wednesdays, continues with help from some new plot-holders. A regular monthly volunteer session, on the first Saturday of the month, has been re-established with members of the Greenwich branch of Good Gym.

The Community Garden now has a professional gardener working each week to hep keep the place tidy and to develop the garden