Weir breach leaves secondary river channel dry

Thanks to Chris Wheal for reporting this. The Environment Agency and the Council have now both been notified and I have replies indicating they will be taking the appropriate action.

Robert Sheppard

Encouraging considerate cycling

Ladywell Fields is a pleasant route between Ladywell-Catford, well-used by pedestrians, skaters and cyclists alike.  This is to be encouraged.  However the park is also used by dog walkers and young children who, at times - especially in the vicinity of the cafe - find that some cyclists using the pathways pay scant regard to safety and seem reluctant to moderate their speed at all.

 

The 'official' cycle route through the park runs down the eastern (Hospital) side, adjacent to the River.  However that path is less direct and in quite poor condition in places.  So it's not at all surprising that cyclists opt to use the western path, adjacent to the railway, which is straighter and has a better surface.

 

This problem has been the subject of discussion amongst park users, and with the Council's Parks Team,  for years - but there's no obvious solution.  Additional signage will just clutter the park and is unlikely to make much impact - and we don't really want humps or chicane-type obstacles even if they were to solve the problem.  In the meantime the few inconsiderate cyclists seem to be giving the responsible majority a bad name - and invariably the offenders will be affronted at any suggestion that they're exibiting poor behaviour.

 

However on 15 June, between 7.30-11.00am, the Council will be running a 'Doctor Bike' session outside the 10,000 Hands Cafe and plans at the same time to hand-out leaflets which, inter alia, encourage considerate cycling.  Lewisham Cyclists have been invited to meet to discuss the issues and to feed into the proposed leaflet.

 

Robert Sheppard  

Glendale flyer spells out basic service commitment

With the scaling-down of the static park keeper service (to only 2.5 days per week in the case of Ladywell Fields) it is all the more important that we, as park users, report issues that need the attention of Glendale's mobile team.  Glendale have produced this flyer, which includes all the relevant contact details.

You can also download and use the 'Love Lewisham' smartphone app for reporting problems in parks (in the same way as you can use it for reporting on-street issues such as flytips).

 

In relation to litter and bins, Glendale works to the following timescales -  and, where possible, aims to exceed these.

 

Litter - Glendale aim to resolve reported litter issues within 6 hrs (during operational hours).

 

Full bins - Glendale aim to have full bins emptied within 3 hours of being reported (which means if this is reported by 1.00pm the issue should be resolved the by 4.00pm the same day and if reported after 1.00pm, the issue will be resolved by 10.30am the following day).

 

 

Robert Sheppard

 

Iona Orchard volunteers plant wildflower seeds

On Sunday eight or so volunteers came to the Iona Orchard nature reserve (see separate tab above for more information) for a short work session.  In only a couple of hours we cleared more ivy and  undergrowth from the centre  of the site where four new fruit trees (traditional apple varieties) were planted last year, and sprinkled around wildflower seeds provided free by Kew Gardens.

 

While we were working three separate people spotted from Ladywell Fields that the gate was open and walked up into the site for a chat.  All were interested in the project and two had memories of the site stretching back 50 years or so, when it was a garden belonging to an old couple who lived in one of the villas on Ravensbourne Park Road.

 

Some of our (less camera-shy) volunteers

Thanks to all those who took part.  There will be more volunteer sessions and open days during the next six months, so keep an eye on this website for updates.

 

Robert Sheppard

Fallen/unsafe trees in Ladywell Fields

Earlier this week I wrote to the Council’s Parks Team asking about a couple of trees which park users have reported as needing attention.  Council officer Vince Buchanan has today replied as follows:

“Our Tree Officer has completed an inspection of Ladywell Fields - please see responses below.

(i) across the River close in the vicinity of the Adventure playground - the tree has fallen parallel to the bank and does not entirely block the river and so does not really present a flood risk and certainly has not done so in the time it has been down; and

 

(ii) across the path leading between the bottom of the Prendergast School site and the River - There is a multi-stem willow which seems to be on the School site.  One stem has been applying pressure to the steel fence and has been like it for a number of years.  More recently a smaller stem has split away from the bole but is resting firmly on the fence and has done so for at least a year and a half but is not impeding the footpaths in the Park.  This stem is still attached to the bole.  Perhaps as it has again been brought to our attention it would be worth getting this stem removed and the tree owner to inspect and deal with the remaining tree.  I am unsure who would be responsible for any of this work as it is a School site."

 

Vince has undertaken to contact Prendergast Ladywell Fields College to make them aware of this issue.

 

Please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if you spot any trees that seem to need arboricultural attention.

 

Robert Sheppard