Community Orchard volunteer session, postponed to Sunday 23rd August 2020 10.30am

The weather forecast has quite a bit of rain for Saturday 15th August 2020 with an amber warning of thunderstorms. We decided to postpone the orchard work session to Sunday 23rd August. The timings and all other details can remain the same.

Community Orchard volunteer session, Sunday 23rd August 2020 10.30am

Session postponed from Saturday 15th August 2020 10.30am

The orchard has done well this year and there has been quite a lot of fruit on the trees. They would benefit from a late summer prune, which will help stimulate the trees to produce fruit again next year. We have therefore planned another work day for Saturday 15th August, 10.30am - 12.30pm . Please come along to help and maybe learn something new about tree maintenance. Rendezvous at the orchard in the south end of Ladywell Fields, near the Bournville Road entrance. Even if it is warm, covered shoes are a good idea as there are thistles around the trees. Under 16s only with close supervision. Please bring your own (sharp) secateurs if you have them, but some tools will also be available to borrow.

It is best to prune in dry weather, so if it is a very wet day we are likely to postpone. Email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if interested, so we can gauge numbers and let you know if the weather causes a change of plan.

Walk, don’t stop, give as much room as possible

We are now in the eighth week of physical distancing rules and open spaces are getting busier again.  There is plenty of space in Ladywell fields, but there are also pinch points where it is not always possible to stay 2 metres apart.  The bridge connecting the north and middle fields is one of those. We rely on everyone to act responsibly in those narrow spaces:

• Stay at least 2 metres behind the person in front.  
• Walk--don’t overtake.  
• Don’t stop.  
• Give people coming towards you as much room as possible. 
• If available, arrive from another entrance and avoid the pinch points.    

Covid-19: GLA Guidance on Parks and Green Spaces in London

The Greater London Authority has issued this guidance to managers and users of parks and green spaces, including Ladywell Fields:

The Coronavirus has put increased pressure on our parks and green spaces and on those managing them. Across London facilities in parks have been closed (playgrounds, outdoor gyms, public toilets, cafes etc.) and events and activities cancelled, to help curb the spread of Covid-19. We want to strongly encourage appropriate use of parks, within government guidelines, to assist land managers and to help keep our parks open. Hence we are working with land managers, the GLA and London Councils to provide consistent and current guidance and messaging around the use of parks, especially ahead of the Easter break. If you have not already closed your car parks we strongly advise that you do so to discourage people travelling further than their local parks. We recommend the following guidance for park users:

• Do not visit a park if you have any Symptoms – fever, coughs, shortness of breath or are self-isolating (see NHS guidelines, link below)
• Stay local and use parks and green spaces close to your home
• Only go outside alone or with members of your own household
• Parks should be used for daily exercise or essential travel only. Team sports, social activities (e.g. picnics, play dates etc.) and sunbathing should not be taking place
• Keep at least 2 metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times: use all areas of the park, spread out and keep moving; if the park is crowded, do not enter if you cannot safely stay at a distance from others, consider exercising in quieter, less-used streets.
• Gatherings of more than two people in parks or other public spaces have been banned. The Met Police and local authorities and are out in parks urging Londoners to follow this
• Only use park benches if you need to rest briefly
• Make use of your garden if you have one to help reduce visits to parks and green spaces, people without gardens may rely on parks more
• Keep your dog on a lead, at all times, in public spaces to ensure you can safely keep 2 metres away from others
• Take litter and dog mess home with you
• Follow hygiene advice when you are outside, avoid touching surfaces and wash your hands as soon as you are back home
• Do not use areas of the park that have been closed such as play areas – these are closed to stop the possible spread of COVID-19 through touching surfaces and keeping a safe distance from others.

Useful links for further advice:
Advice provided by the Mayor of London
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Stay safe in Ladywell Fields this Easter holiday weekend

People are enjoying the sunshine and their open spaces this weekend, so make sure you, your neighbours, and the vulnerable members in our household will be safe.

• Go for your daily exercise, on your own or with others from the same household.
• Keep a safe distance of 2 metres or more, don't go into crowded areas.
• Keep moving, don't block areas for others.  
• Play areas, sports courts, outdoor gym, skate park and cafe are closed.
• Use nearby roads for essential cycle journeys, these may be less busy than the park.  
• Keep dogs on leads, avoid unnecessary contact
• Don't touch your face, wash hands as soon as possible after your visit. 

Don't spread the virus 

 

Keep Ladywell Fields safe and follow the Coronavirus guidance

We have first warm weekend of 2020 – the first one since the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown – and it's really tempting to spend time outdoors.  Ladywell Fields can be a great open space, provided we follow the guidelines on social distancing. 
✅exercise in your local park
✅keep moving so don’t block the area for others 
✅keep 2m distance
❌ picnic, sunbathe, play sports
❌drive to Ladywell Fields
❌go in if busy
Never forget, people needing treatment or battling for their lives in ten days time are catching their Coronavirus infection now. 
Imagine you are told you have contracted Covid 19: you will be asked to trace where you had been and who you had been in contact with.  Be sure you have not caused anyone else to get ill.  Don't take the risk, think of others. 
You can run, walk, or cycle either alone or with members of your household.  Be particularly stringent about keeping that 2m distance at pinch-points including entrances and foot bridges.  All outdoor facilities – playgrounds, tennis courts, skate park, gym equipment and petanque – are closed.

Ladywell Fields User Group meeting, Thursday 12th March 2020, 7pm

Thursday 12th March 2020, 7pm
Venue:  Environmental Studies room, North Field (adjacent to Ladywell railway station)

We'll be covering issues including

1. our successful bid to the Council's Greening Fund,
2. the recent Boundary Commission proposals,
3. the proposal for a pedestrian/cycle bridge the Catford Green development and Doggett Road. 

There will also be an update on volunteering opportunities and discussion about management issues in the park. If you have any issues you would like included please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk

Date of next meeting Thursday 11th June 2020.

Community Orchard volunteer session, Saturday 8th February 2020 10.30am

The Community Orchard fruit trees need more winter pruning and a fresh layer of mulch. 

We'll meet on Saturday 8th February, 10.30am - 12.30pm, to continue the work started on 11th January. Please come along to help - no previous experience necessary. Rendezvous at the south end of Ladywell Fields, Bourneville Road entrance. Boots and old clothes recommended. Under 16s only with close supervision. Please bring your own (sharp) secateurs if you have them, but some will also be available to borrow. It is best to prune in dry weather, so if it is a very wet day we are likely to postpone. Email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if interested, so we can gauge numbers and let you know if the weather causes plans to change.

Hope to see you there.

Mark the date:  There will also be pear grafting session on 22nd February where we will graft the scions collected in January on to new root stocks.

Community Orchard volunteer session, Saturday 11th January 2020 10.30am

The Community Orchard fruit trees need a winter prune, and we also intend to do some grafting from the veteran pear trees in nearby Iona Close orchard. To do this we need to collect scions in January. Scions are pencil-sized twigs from last year's growth, which we will keep dormant until late February when we aim to graft them on to new root stocks.

The first volunteer session will be Saturday 11th January, 10.30am - 12.30pm. We'll be largely pruning but also checking guards and posts, then collecting scion wood. Please come along to help - no previous experience necessary. Rendezvous at the south end of Ladywell Fields, Bourneville Road entrance. Boots and old clothes recommended. Under 16s only with close supervision. Please bring your own (sharp) secateurs if you have them, but some will also be available to borrow. It is best to prune in dry weather, so if it is a very wet day we are likely to postpone. Email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if interested, so we can gauge numbers and let you know if the weather causes plans to change.

There will be a follow up pruning session on 8th February and we hope to hold the pear grafting session on 22nd February.

Hope to see you there.