Further orchard work/open day on Sunday 2 August, 11.00am start

Thanks to those of you who came to last Sunday's volunteer/open day in the community orchard in Ladywell Fields (south field).  We were able to tend to the trees, check on their general health, have a go at some of the weeds encroaching near the trees and spot those trees in need of watering, as we've had so little rain now for several months.

 

It's clear the orchard will need more t.l.c. during the Summer so we've identified Sunday 2 August for another session.

 

In the meantime thank you to Glendale who responded very positively to our request at the LFUG meeting on Tuesday by today sending a bowser down to the south field to water some of the orchard trees and the new plantings along the bottom of the diagonal path leading from Bourneville Road to Ewhurst Road.

 

Robert Sheppard

Join in the Three Rivers Clean-Up

The annual Three Rivers Clean-Up runs to 11 July and you'll find full details, including an events calendar, here.

 

This Sunday, 5 July, there'll be two river-dipping sessions for all the family - 11.00am-1.00pm and 2.00-4.00pm - in Ladywell Fields.  Join Nick Bertrand and team for a river dipping and freshwater invertebrate identification event.

 

You might also be interested in the clean-up in Cornmill Gardens this Saturday 4 July starting at 11.00am, ending at 2.00pm.  The programme of events will continue through next week culminating in  a special event on Sunday 12 July for all those who have taken part during the fortnight.

 

Robert Sheppard  

Park issues raised at last night's meeting

At its meeting at the Ladywell Tavern yesterday evening, the Ladywell Fields Park User Group considered a wide range of issues in and/or affecting the park.  We were grateful to have Paul Winters of Glendale in attendance.  Here is a summary of the issues discussed.

 
• Barratts will soon be submitting a further application for the Catford Green (Catford Stadium) development which will include an additional storey on the buildings facing the park at the north of the site.  It was agreed that LFUG should object if the revised proposals had a significantly worse impact on the Park than those already approved.  It was agreed that Barratt’s proposals for the boundary between the development and the park needed to incorporate measures to prevent vehicular access into the Park.
• Discussions were underway between the Council, Environment Agency and Volker Fitzpatrick about the possibility of using large ‘arisings’ from the Lewisham Gateway project to repair the weir.
• Inconsiderate cycling in the vicinity of the cafe and down the diagonal path from Ewhurst Road in the south field remained a problem.  The ‘blind’ corner at the park entrance with Bourneville Road was also a hazard.
• Anecdotal evidence suggested that the reduction in Park Keeper presence (from 5 to 2.5 days pwk from 1 April 2015) had resulted in increased litter problems - though clearly this was not the fault of the part-time Keeper.  The Group hoped that in time more park users would get to know and recognise the new keeper and establish a more personal relationship. 
• Paul Winters undertook to attend to a number of issues in the south/middle fields as follows – (i) he would initiate more regular collections of rubbish from the regularly overflowing bins; (ii) he’d get the bowser to water drought affected trees - alongside the diagonal path and in the orchard - during July and August; (iii) he’d check for wobbly benches; and (v) he’d look to take action against the scooter that had been riding over the curly bridge most mornings c.7.00am.  He indicated that he was happy for people to call him on 07710 620661 to report issues needing urgent attention.
• After Paul left the meeting two further issues were raised relating to the south field – (i) the robinia cut down halfway up the diagonal path was again sprouting and its spiky branches were encroaching across the path – so the stump needed to be poisoned; and (ii) the surface of the children’s play area needed inspection and repair - it was especially bad under the large ‘scales’ item of equipment.
• Nick Pond, the Council’s Ecology Manager, to be asked for two more buckets to facilitate watering of the most vulnerable orchard trees during the Summer.
• The Bubble Theatre had an event in the Park on 8 July – see http://www.londonbubble.org.uk/page/rivers-and-people1/
• The Group agreed it would be useful if Tony and Robert took up Glendale/LBL’s offer of going with them on one of their periodic contract inspection visits of the Park.
• It was agreed that LFUG should do more to engage/involve young and newer park users to best ensure it remained representative and relevant.  The dates of future meetings (Tues 29 Sept and Tues 1 Dec 2015) should be widely publicised and well in advance.
• People had been spotted fishing in the vicinity of the curly bridge.  Is this permitted?
• Volunteering - (i) a further orchard workday/open day had been arranged for Sunday 2 August; and (ii) a Thames 21 River Clean-Up should be arranged for the Autumn.

These matters will be followed-up over the coming weeks.

 

Robert Sheppard

Orchard Workday and Open Day - Sunday 28 June at 11.00am

At the weekend our orchard leader had a good look at both the Ladywell Fields ‘community orchard’ and Iona Orchard nature reserve.  Although both are coming on well, a lot of weeds have established around the trees.

 

So we’re organising a workday for 11.00am-2.00pm on Sunday 28 June.  We can do some pruning of plums and cherries, plus some weeding, watering and inspection for pests/disease.

 

If you are going to come along, please dress appropriately.  We have a limited supply of gloves so please bring your own and come wearing sturdy footwear and with your legs covered against the nettles, thistles and brambles that we’ll be tackling.  Please also bring your own refreshments, especially if it’s a hot day.

 

Please assemble 10.45-11.00am in the community orchard, close to the children’s play equipment in the south part (Bournville Road, Catford) end of Ladywell Fields.

 

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

Glendale help on Iona Orchard project

This afternoon Glendale colleagues Darren Budden, Angus Fraser and Chris Thompson helped remove most of one large pile of green waste that has accumulated on-site following volunteer sessions throughout the last three years.

 

They also helped by clearing some more vegetation at the bottom of the site.  The only reason we had to stop after 90 minutes was because the Glendale van that had been brought along to cart away the arisings was full!

 

Thanks to Darren, Angus and Chris.

 

There will be another volunteer session this Sunday 26 April, starting at 10.30am, during which we plan to sow wildflower seeds.

Robert

Why not do some Volunteering in Ladywell Fields?

There will be a number of volunteering sessions in Ladywell Fields between now and the Summer holidays, as follows:

 

Friday 24 April, 2.30-4.30pm - Glendale-assisted workday workday in Iona Orchard (behind Bournville Road - access from Ladywell Fields).  To register your attendance contact ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk.   More information about Iona Orchard can be found under the tab above.

 

Sunday 26 April, 10.30am-12.30pm - Workday in Iona Orchard (see above for location).   To register your attendance contact ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk.   More information about Iona Orchard can be found under the tab above.

Wednesday 6 May, 5.30-7.30pm - Take your mind off the General Election the following day at a volunteer river clean-up and talk, organised by Thames 21.  Meet in the Park at the far end of Malyons Road, Ladywell. 

 

Thursday 14 May, 11.00am-2.00pm - Nature's Gym workday in Iona Orchard (see above for location).  For more details and to register your attendance contact naturesgym@lewisham.gov.uk or phone (W) 020 8314 2199 or (M) 07710 359851.  More information about Iona Orchard can be found under the tab above.

 

Thursday 25 June, 11am-2.00pm - Nature's Gym 'Three Rivers Clean-Up' event.  Meet by the cafe in the northern field, close to Ladywell Road.  At this session we will be tackling invasive Himalayan Balsam and clearing litter from the riverbanks.

 

Please come suitably equipped, wearing old clothes and sturdy footwear, for all these events.  Adults only please for health and safety reasons. 

 

Please find here full information on this year's 'Three Rivers Clean-Up' programme, which runs from 20 June to 11 July.

 

Please find here more on Nature's Gym volunteering events in Lewisham's parks and green spaces.

Robert Sheppard

Keen to take a lead role in an exciting local environmental project?

Iona Orchard nature reserve is a haven of green tranquility behind a locked gate at the south end of Ladywell Fields (i.e. in the Crofton Park area) just a stone's throw from South Circular.

Iona Orchard is a SINC - a site of interest for nature conservation - because the ancient fruit trees, alive and dead, provide home to some uncommon species of beetles. The site, which is part owned by the Council, part by L&Q Housing Association, used to be the double gardens of the pair of fine Victorian villas that face onto Ravensbourne Park Road - but now it is fenced off and secure without free public access.

The Council's Ecology Manager, in liaison with the Ladywell Fields User Group and L&Q, has drawn up a management plan for the site and for the last few years Nature's Gym and the Ladywell Fields User Group have run volunteer sessions to build a woodchip path, keep brambles and ivy at bay.

Ten fruit trees (of traditional varieties) have been planted with the help and generosity of the Urban Orchard Project and, in time, they will grow into full-sized trees - but they have to be looked after carefully to ensure they survive and thrive.

Now is the time to take this project to a new level so that the site can be declared safe for educational visits during the Summer and Autumn, so might you be able to help - either by coming along to the occasional volunteer session or by joining a 'management committee' for the site. An Interest in ecology, gardening and/or environmental volunteering would be helpful but is not essential.

Families are welcome although parents may wish to keep a close eye on younger kids, especially if and when work is being done one-site, until such time as we're fully confident the site is completely safe (i.e. free of any residual broken glass, cans etc.)

If you're interested, please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk and let us know how you'd like to be involved and what sort of time commitment you might be able to make.

Robert Sheppard

12 March Volunteer Session in Iona Orchard

Iona Orchard is a nature reserve located between Bournville Road and Iona Close, not far from Catford Station.  It is part-owned by L&Q Housing Association and part by Lewisham Council.  Since it was 'rediscovered' in 2012 both the Council and local volunteers have been working to maintain it sensitively as a nature reserve whilst simultaneously saving the few veteran fruit trees on the site and restoring the orchard by planting new fruit trees of traditional varieties, with the help of the Urban Orchard Project.

 

Yesterday Nature's Gym ran one of their regular volunteer sessions in Iona Orchard and, on a beautiful Spring day, attracted a diverse group of some 20 people.   In a 3hr session (with tea break, thank goodness!) we managed to clear ivy and undergrowth in the centre of the site, to give the new fruit trees the best chance to thrive, cut ivy away from some of the more established trees and cut back brambles at the lower end of the site.

Many thanks to all those who came along!

Robert Sheppard