Link opens pdf: 06 August 12.08.19 FOHP TrusteeMins
Litter in the Park – June 2019 Update
You may remember that last year, litter was a big problem in the park over the summer months. And you’ll have seen it for yourself when using the park.
What’s the problem?
Last year, there was an increase in park use due to the warm weather, along with the Council’s policy of removing some bins while replacing others.
Fenced-in area
Of particular concern, all the bins were removed from the fenced-in paddling pool and play area. This area has a number of picnic benches and is heavily used by families visiting the paddling pool, eating picnics and playing on the play equipment.
It’s the one place in the park that really needs litter bins! Why? Because it is where the most litter is generated. Also, with all the bins being outside the fenced area, parents/carers feel uneasy about leaving children in this area unattended while they take litter outside to the bins. Equally, they are unhappy about letting children out to put litter in the bins themselves as they pass out of view.
The removal of these bins was supposed to reduce the amount of litter being dropped in the fenced-in area. However, it has resulted in an increase in litter, smashed glass and dirty nappies.
Car park bins
Also, the removal of a number of bins from around the car park has resulted in a noticeable increase in littering there. Again, this area has picnic benches and is heavily used – one of the places you that really needs bins.
These increases meant that FOHP litter picking volunteers were in the park 2 to 3 times more than normal last year – an unsustainable amount.
You can read about the issues from last year, here, and a follow up at the end of the season, here.
What’s been done?
This year FOHP have tried to get ahead of the curve with mixed results.
Discussion with the Council
In March, we sat down with the Council to discuss possible ways of reducing litter for the 2019 season.
Ideally, we want bins reinstated in the fenced of paddling pool and play area, and by the car park. We have been told previously that this will not happen.
In addition to this, our suggestions included:
- Support from the Council litter team on bank holidays.
- Temporary bins in strategic places in agreement with our volunteers, including by the western entrance to the paddling pool.
- Signs in the paddling pool area to show where bins are positioned outside the gates.
- High profile visits from the dog wardens
Of these suggestions, the Council agreed to place two temporary bins in the park – but like last year, they will not put both of them where our volunteers suggest.
Education
FOHP have been running litter picks with various nurseries and youth groups. This helps teach children the value of looking after our green spaces and hopefully, they’ll grow up to respect our open spaces. It also means more litter getting picked in the park.
Local community groups
In addition, we’ve had a number of local groups asking to pick litter in the park. Of course, we said yes! And thank you!
Next steps
We will be making our local Councillors aware of the issues as well as organising additional litter picks in the park over the summer months.
The issue of bins in the fenced off paddling pool and play area is a safety issue as much as a littering issue and needs to be addressed – ideally with the reinstatement of these bins.
Trustee Meeting Minutes June 17th 2019
Link opens pdf: 05 June 17.06.19 FOHP TrusteeMins
What’s on in Hamworthy Park this summer – 2019
Every summer you have the same problem. You just don’t know what events are happening in the park and when. You’d like to go, but you always miss them.
Not this summer!
Get all the Hamworthy Park events info in one place. Now, you can plan for the summer and make sure you don’t miss a thing!
BCP Paddling Pool Opening Party – to be announced
The date is still unconfirmed at this point, but it’s going to be a party to remember. A chance for the kids to get in the newly refurbished paddling pool – this is what the whole project has been about.
More info as we get it.
Park Cafe Summer BBQ – weather permitting
We are very excited about this one! The Park Cafe is putting on a BBQ this summer. On busy, sunny days, the chefs will sizzle up a storm – can’t wait to see the new BBQ menu! Check out their Facebook.
FOHP Annual Park Fete – 11.00am, Saturday, July 6th.
The traditional annual fete will be full of children’s rides, music, a children’s entertainer and a variety of stalls – including local community groups. A great day out and definetly one for the diary.
Poole Town Rowing Regatta – 10.30am, Sunday, 7th July.
Rescheduled after high winds in June. This annual event is really quite a spectacle. Watch teams battle it out for supremacy on the water. High-speed racing and nail-biting finishes guaranteed.
FOHP Produce Sale – 10.30am, Sunday, September 22nd.
The produce sale marks the end of the summer season in the park. On sale are locally produced vegetables and fruit along with delicious homemade jams, chutneys and pickles. My favourite is the cherry jam!
Any donations of your surplus produce welcome.
What, no fun fair?
What about the children’s fun fair, I hear you cry? The children’s one that usually comes in August?
It’s not confirmed as yet. Watch this space!
And don’t forget….
FOHP Wednesday Volunteers – every Wednesday, 9.30-12.00
If you fancy some fresh air, light exercise and the chance to meet community minded people, then come and join the Wednesday volunteers. Help with a bit of litter picking, gardening and other light maintenance tasks. Just turn up!
So there you have it – all the events happening in Hamworthy Park this summer. If you think we’ve omitted an event, get in touch and let us know!
***** The details in this post were correct at the time of publishing. Some events are being run by FOHP and some are being run by other organisations. Please check with the relevant organisation for more details. Thank you. *****
News from the park – May
Watching the seasons
It was still the month of April when our first rose, pictured here, burst into life. It was very early in the season, but a welcome sight. And hopefully there are many more to come.
A few days later it is now into May and as you can see quite a number of our spring flowering bulbs are still providing a bit of colour in the park.
Another welcome visitor
Last week we had another of our occasional park visitors – a Little White Egret.
For some time now their numbers in this area have been on the increase since they first arrived from France and started breeding in the mid-nineties.
Little Egrets are easily recognised by their long black beak and legs with yellow webbed feet and upright stance. This one was seen socialising with the resident seagulls at the eastern end of the park.
The power of the sea
The waters within Poole Harbour are generally considered to be relatively safe and not normally known for rough conditions.
Nevertheless, it must have taken some waves of considerable strength to wash up an item as heavy as this. A cast iron engine block complete with crankshaft that has recently appeared on the shoreline within the park.
Youngest Wednesday volunteer
Pictured here is Chloe – a regular member of our Wednesday volunteers. When it comes to litter picking, a four-year-old certainly has an advantage over most of her elderly colleagues.
She can get into places the others have no chance of reaching. Evidence of this is when she pulled out this old bicycle basket from the hedge bordering the railway, it must have been there some considerable time.
She also comes into her own when litter picking the shrubberies at the Branksea Avenue end. At her low level she can spot litter others cannot see and she won’t give up until the offending bottle or can is in the firm grasp of her litter picker.
Get involved
If you would like to get some fresh air, meet people and make a difference, then come and join one of our volunteering groups.
Wednesday Volunteers – meet every Wednesday in Hamworthy Park, 10.00am outside the park cafe. Just turn up!
Saturday Volunteers – we run a programme of Saturday volunteer events roughly once a month.
See our website or Facebook for further details. Or get in contact.
Picking up glass on the beach
Glass reported on the beach
Following a report that a dog had suffered a bad cut on whilst on the beach, a glass pick was carried out by the Wednesday volunteers.
To be honest, searching out glass on the beach is akin to the needle in a haystack – nevertheless, twenty-four pieces of glass, pictured here, were found.
At least there are now twenty-four pieces less but there could be an awful lot more hidden amongst the sand and stones. Dog owners and parents, please take care.
Obviously, a regular beach glass pick would help reduce the problem but our band of Wednesday volunteers can only do so much.
Get involved
If you would like to make a difference in your community, come and join one of our volunteering groups.
Wednesday Volunteers – meet every Wednesday in Hamworthy Park, 10.00am outside the park cafe. Just turn up!
Saturday Volunteers – we run a programme of Saturday volunteer events roughly once a month.
See our website or Facebook for further details. Or get in contact.
Broken glass on the flood bank
WARNING – BROKEN GLASS
Last year, particularly in the dry summer months, the Friends were made aware that broken glass was becoming a potential hazard as it was constantly appearing on the surface along the top of the Western end flood bank.
What was done?
A member of the Wednesday working party picked up a number of pieces but within a week or so more had appeared. The situation was constantly monitored and on another occasion 32 shards of glass were picked up.
We reported this to a Council Officer but we were told it was the responsibility of the Environment Agency – either way, nothing official has been done to solve the problem.
Reoccurring problem
We have recently had another dry spell and it appears the problem has not gone away. This week twenty-one pieces of glass (see photo) had broken the surface and were picked up by a Wednesday Volunteer.
As it seems likely that this will be an ongoing problem we wish to bring it to park users’ attention, particularly dog owners and possibly parents of younger children.
Wildflower update
Wildflower watch
It is only sixteen days since the wildflower turf was laid yet the first of the flowers believed to be red campion are now in bloom ( according to our wild flower book red campion is supposed to be pink). So let’s hope they are the first of many!
Wildflower care
We have been constantly watering this area as it is essential to keep the turf damp until the flowers become established.
Watch this space for more updates as we have them.
Easter Fayre 2019
What wonderful weather we enjoyed over the Easter weekend – it really brought the crowds into the park especially for our Easter Fayre on the Sunday.
Getting started
We arrived before 9.00 am to assemble our event tent and lay out the tables for our cake stall, adult and children’s tombola, knitted toys (mostly containing Easter eggs), our publicity items and of course the Easter Egg trail.
Easter egg trail
When we arrived back at the stalls having laid out the trail, we had just three minutes to spare before our scheduled opening time – already a queue had formed at the Easter trail table and cakes were disappearing fast. By lunch time the tombola had sold out and there were empty spaces on the other tables. But the Easter trail was kept going until past 3.00 pm.
In all we think 158 children took part and successfully retrieved an Egg from Bunny’s Nest or Bunny’s Nursery.
What’s in the sock?
At our publicity table we had a ‘What’s in the Sock?’ competition which was won by Vikki Ekema with a top score of 12 points – Well done Vikki – and many thanks for donating your £10 prize back to park funds.
For all those entrants who did not quite guess all the items correctly, here is what you felt through the socks:
1. Can opener/bottle opener.
2. Pen lid.
3. Electric socket cover/blank.
4. 1 1/2p (three old 1/2p coins).
5. Staple remover.
6. Bar of Imperial Leather soap.
7. Pastry cutter.
8. Pencil sharpener.
9. Bodkin.
10. Flower pot.
11. Rubber (eraser).
12. Padlock.
Total fundraising
The trustees consider it to have been a very successful event with plenty of positive feedback. In total £422 was raised for park funds. We thank all our park users for their support and a special thank you to those of you who donated such wonderful cakes – we could not get them all on the tables at the start! And let’s not forget all our helpers, it would not happen without you.
Should anyone have any suggestions for next year’s Fayre do please contact the Friends.
Next event
We hope to see you all again at our Plant Sale in the park on Sunday 19th May from 11.00 am.
Wild flower area – Hamworthy Park
FOHP, together with a local school and Dorset Wildlife Trust, have recently put in a new wild flower area in Hamworthy Park.
Previous attempts
After months of trying to get written permission from the council, it was finally agreed about six weeks ago that the Friends could experiment with a wildflower area located behind the Western end flood bank. A wildflower area had been tried by the council some years ago. This was behind the Eastern flood bank but it failed.
A new approach
In an effort to be more successful, we decided to consult the experts. So contact was made with Kew Gardens, Dorset Wildlife Trust and some specialist wildflower seed suppliers. The main reason for the previous failure, apparently, was inadequate preparation and the location. It is essential that all existing turf is removed and the patch dug over – removing as many weed roots as possible. The soil level is then restored using poor quality top soil. Wildflowers grow best in poor soil and it is important not to apply any fertilizer. This is because in fertile soils, grasses and weeds tend to swamp the less competitive wildflowers.
The previous location was adjacent to a hedgerow. This was attractive to nesting birds and sowing seeds there was just like setting up a picnic table for them, so the experts said.
Pre-sown turf
Although it is more expensive, experts advised that the best chance of success would be to use a pre-sown turf of perennial flowers – but sow annual wildflower seed around the perimeter. A suitable turf was ordered from a specialist nursery near Basingstoke and collection arranged for the 1st April. The landscape turf we ordered contains up to 31 different perennial wildflower species and two non-invasive grasses.
Getting started
A few weeks ago, as many park users have noticed, an area was marked out and the FOHP volunteers got stuck in removing the turf. This turf was made use of to infill numerous holes in the grass throughout the park -probably the most strenuous bit of the project – pushing well laden wheelbarrows as far as the Eastern end! The area was dug over and bucket after bucket load of poor garden soil was delivered to the park by ‘the Paddling Pool Van’.
Twin sails help
Laura Clark, who runs the gardening club at Twin Sails Infant School, had previously asked if there was anything the children could help with in the park – we thought this would be an ideal project to involve them with.
The soil must be watered to saturation point two days before laying. But as we had had no appreciable rainfall for the previous three weeks, many gallons of water were transported to the park over the weekend and the turf was collected on the Monday.
The big day
On Tuesday morning another watering was carried out and in the afternoon the children, Molly, Adam and Max, accompanied by Laura Clark and Mrs Henstridge, met us in the park – after a quick rake over, laying commenced. Katie Wilkinson from Dorset Wildlife Trust also joined us as this project fits in well with their ‘Get Dorset Buzzing’ campaign which is aimed at saving pollinating insects. The FOHP volunteers were almost made redundant as the children got stuck in rolling out the turf and bedding it in. It then received another thorough watering. I think Max thought my shoes were a bit grubby so he watered them as well! Attention was then turned to the surrounds. These were raked over then, using homemade applicators (a small plant pot with most of its drain holes blanked off), wildflower seed premixed with fine sand so we could see where it was going was applied to the remaining exposed soil.
They then gently raked that area over. The accompanying photos show the children hard at work and what a good job they did – Thank you Molly, Adam and Max.
