Next Meeting Wednesday 18 March 2026, 7pm

The Ladywell Fields User Group will meet at 7.00pm on Wednesday 18 March in the Community Hub at the end of Church Grove, Ladywell.  

We have confirmation that the Ladywell Safer Neighbourhoods (Police) Team will attend to discuss crime and ASB in and around the park.  

There's a lot going on at the moment - all positive! We expect updates on 

1. refurbishment of the skatepark and children's playground; 
2. the Hospital's planned 'ground source heat pump' works, which will result in some disruption in the park this year; 
3. the cafe retendering; 
4. new bins to tackle Summer littering; and 
5. planned volunteer activities.  
6. the emerging Biodiversity Plan for the park.

Everyone welcome to come along and help shape the future of wonderful Ladywell Fields.

Next Meeting and AGM, Wednesday 17 September 2025, 7pm

The Ladywell Fields User Group (sometimes known as 'Friends of Ladywell Fields') is holding its next meeting and AGM at 7.00pm on Wednesday 17 September in the Community Hub meeting space, Church Grove, Ladywell.

Come along and help us ensure a wide range of park user views are heard.  

The Community Hub is the small building nestled beside the apartment block.  Follow the step-free path to the right and all the way to the back--do not go up to the main entrance.  

There is no car parking at the venue.  

Future meeting dates are
Wednesday 3 December 2025 (Christmas Social, details tbc)
Wednesday 18 March 2026 (at the Hub, Church Grove)
Wednesday 17 June 2026 (walk in the park)

Veteran elm in Ladywell Fields

The renowned Scottish tree expert and botanical illustrator David John More has confirmed that the old elm tree on the river bank in the middle of Ladywell Fields is a European White elm and not, as the sign suggests, a Klemmer Dutch elm.  Our Ladywell Fields elm is one of the few distinguished specimens which survived the virulent spread of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s and 80s when more than 25 million trees died in the UK.    

David tells us that Scolytus beetles, the carriers of the elm disease fungus, tend to avoid the European White variety of elm because of chemicals in its twigs which render the bark distasteful.  The Scolytus will however feed on European White elm if they cannot find  their preferred species, English elm and Wych elm, in the vicinity. 

The key to the lucky survival of the Ladywell elm may well have been the presence of other elm trees nearby.  The User Group have recently planted more Wych elm in the Tiny Forest along the western border of the middle field. Should try to plant even more?

David John More is currently working on a new book of elms, which includes this illustration based on photos of the Ladywell elm provided the User Group.  

Orchard volunteering session, Saturday 29 March 2025

On Saturday 29 March there will be another volunteer session in the community orchard and, if we have sufficient numbers, in Iona Orchard (nature reserve) close by also.

Please join us in the orchard, at the south end of Ladywell Fields near the Bournville Road entrance. Under 16s only with close supervision. Boots and old clothes are recommended as it will probably be muddy. Please bring your own gloves if you have them, but some will also be available to borrow.

Please contact ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if you'd like to take part. This helps us gauge numbers and/or let you know should we have to postpone due to wet weather.

Next Meeting, Wednesday 26 March 2025, 7pm

The next Ladywell Fields User Group meeting will be held at 7.00pm on Weds 26 March.

• We'll hear from Lucy Houliston of Royal Holloway, University of London, about her research work on Urban Orchards and Insect Conservation.
• We'll have a discussion with Lewisham Parks Manager, Peter Maynard, about the park user survey to be launched this summer, a piece of work which will help steer and support developments in Ladywell Fields over the coming years.
• We'll pick up on any key park maintenance issues and past and future volunteering sessions.

The meeting is held at the Church Grove Community Hub, at the far end of Church Grove, Ladywell, SE13 7UU.  Follow the path between flats and bicycle parking.  There is no car parking available at the venue.  

All who are, and those who'd like to become, friends of Ladywell Fields are welcome.  Make a diary note, and see you there!