Healthy Walks and Nordic Walks at Ladywell Fields

Parks in London are an essential resource to promote walking and healthy living, and Ladywell Fields is a particularly beautiful place for outdoor activity. 

The Lewisham Healthy Walks programme meets regularly at Ladywell Fields for health walks and Nordic walks for everyone including those Lewisham residents who are less active.

Anyone can turn up and go at one of the weekly events each Thursday at 11am.  For the full program of targeted activities visit  www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder/lewisham-healthy-walks.

Lewisham Nordic walks are perfect for those who want to get a bit more active. It is simple to learn and the programmes start with four sessions to learn the technique with an instructor--next start date is Saturday 5 January 2019. There is no charge for the sessions and equipment is provided. Visit gcda.coop/lewisham-nordic-walking for more info on Nordic walks.

Lewisham Healthy Walks is managed by GCDA and funded by Lewisham Council. It is part of the Be Inspired Lewisham Programme - you can find out more at beinspiredlewisham.org.

Planting day for new trees in the community orchard, Saturday 1st December

We have secured funding from The Orchard Project for two new plum trees. Having considered the options, we chose Marjorie's seedling trees. This is a very traditional variety which is self-fertile but will also cross pollinate with the trees we already have, increasing the crop. The trees will replace an apple and a pear because switching to a stone fruit reduces the chances of soil sickness which can arise when replanting like with like.

Planting day is arranged for Saturday, 1st December 2018. If you would like help with this, please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk. 

The new trees will need regular watering for their first two years--just as we lost our orchard water butt. If anyone has a spare, used water butt, or can think of a way to get sponsorship for a new one, please let us know at ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk. 

Lewisham Greening Fund announced

London Borough of Lewisham announced on 10 October 2018 a new £250,000 Greening Fund to protect and improve the borough’s green spaces.  Schools, park user groups and community groups looking for grants to improve green spaces in the borough should all apply.

This presents an opportunity for Ladywell Fields User Group to access funding for long overdue improvements of the park.  Suggestions can be emailed to ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk. Applications for funding will be invited early in the new year.

New public drinking water fountain open to the public

Ladywell Fields is one of the first 20 locations for new water fountains which are being installed at busy places across London.  The fountain was opened to the public last Saturday, 13 October 2018, in a little ceremony hosted by Lewisham Mayor Damien Egan and attended by park runners, Nordic walkers and other park users. 

The fountains are part of plans by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to cut plastic waste by reducing single-use plastic bottles and instead encouraging people to refill their own bottles.  The fountain in Ladywell Fields will also make a welcome contribution to the health and well-being of those who enjoy outdoor activities--pity it had not been installed ahead of the hot summer. 

Given the success of the first 20 fountains, the Mayor of London has announced that a further 100 will be installed across London.