Tuesday’s work party was devoted to veteran oak tree 5549. We halo our old oaks; this means that we clear away the under-storey that competes for their light and nutrition and build barriers around them to reduce footfall over their roots. Hard work!
The main task was haloing the oak trees in the boundaries of the copse between Sleepers and Sheep Field.
Continue reading “Work Party”
It’s the last Tuesday in the month. The Friends of Southwick Country Park will be meeting in the car park at 9.30am; come and join us.
Only two tasks for the Friends of Southwick Country Park this week: spreading woodchip on the path through the Blackthorn Tunnel and cutting back the set-aside on the northern edge of Village Green.
Continue reading “Wet Wednesday”
The Tuesday work party was very nearly cancelled.
Need to know why? Read on:
The FoSCP met up on Wednesday in the car park at 09:30 for the day’s tasks with Countryside Officer Alison. A dry start made a change and thankfully this was how it remained for the morning, although a shower or two had been forecast.
Continue reading “Another Wednesday Workparty”
Tuesday Work Party Report
A warm and dry morning this Tuesday, 27th Aug, greeted the FoSCP for our meet up in the car park, along with Richard from the Countryside Team; a nice change from our previous two work days which were very wet. With the holiday season still in full swing we did not have our normal complement of friends so the number of tasks to complete had to be reduced.
Continue reading “Tuesday work party report”
The tools for Wednesday’s work party were handed out in the rain and FoSCP, wellied and waterproofed, splashed off to their morning’s tasks in company with Countryside Officer Alison Rasey and Tree Officer Richard Murphy .
Continue reading “Working in the rain”
By DKG
Schools break up for the summer holidays and so does the weather. Weeks of previous fine dry weather have greeted us for the past Wednesdays and Tuesdays and now unsettled weather and rain are forecast, exactly like it was going to be for Tuesday’s work party.
Continue reading “A wet work party”
Work Report by DKG
A lovely warm day greeted the FoSCP, meeting up in the car park for our 9:30am start with Alison from the Countryside Team. A warm welcome was extended to Sasha, a new volunteer; we hope you enjoy your time with us Sasha.
Continue reading “Another Wednesday work party”
by DKG
The FoSCP met in the car park on what was a damp start to tackle more tasks in the park but at least the rain had stopped. Richard from the Countryside Team suggested the day’s work.
Continue reading “Work party report”
We cleared the stream by the wooden bridge; it had clogged up and we feared the little pond was becoming stagnant and would threaten the wildlife there that needs running water.
Continue reading “Wednesday work party”
by Sarah Marsh
The Friends met up one Saturday morning in March to join in the annual Great British Spring Clean. This is the third year we have done a thorough litter pick whilst the vegetation is at its lowest, and we can get into areas not accessible in the summer months.
Continue reading “Good News from the Park”
By DKG
A chilly start to the day with a cold North Easterly breeze greeting the FoSCP in the car park.
Continue reading “Wednesday’s work party”
by DKG
Another beautiful sunny day greeted the volunteers meeting in the car park for today’s tasks, assisted by Richard from the Countryside Team. Quite a few tasks were highlighted and most, if not all, were completed by the end of the morning. These included;
Continue reading “Work Party Report”
Work Party
Next Tuesday, the 26th, is a work party day; come and join us. We meet in the car park at 9.30am and we work until midday. You will need sound and appropriate footwear and a mug.
The Countryside Team provides the tools, thornproof gloves and the coffee to go in the mug. There will be biscuits.
By DKG
A lovely sunny morning greeted the FoSCP and Richard from the countryside team for our Tuesday’s tasks. A warm welcome was also extended to Jamie, a new volunteer, who will be joining us on future Tuesdays. Welcome aboard Jamie, hoping you enjoy your days with us.
Continue reading “Work Party Report”
A chilly but dry Tuesday greeted FoSCP, meeting up in the car park for the day’s tasks. It was decided to try and finish the clearing of the bramble and blackthorn at the rear of the car park and to burn off the debris from the last working day as well as this.
Continue reading “Tuesday report from DKG”
Our next work party is on Tuesday the 29th of January. We meet in the car park at 9.30am; come and join us. The Met Office says it will be very cold but dry and the BBC thinks it will be very cold and wet; wrap up warm.
You will need sturdy footwear and thorn-proof gloves. Bring a coffee mug; we will supply the coffee to put in it and there will be biscuits.
We are looking forward to meeting you. . .
By Sarah Marsh
“A new year and time to reflect on the old one and where better than on one of two seats donated by Asda. The Friends of Southwick Country Park applied for their tokens scheme and when customers voted for us we were awarded £500.
Continue reading “Asda benches”
Who does this? Who wraps their dog’s faeces up in a green plastic bag and then throws it into the trees next to the path alongside Lambrok Meadow? There are bins specifically for dogs’ faeces at each end of that stretch of path and a bin for general rubbish somewhere in the middle.
What do they think will happen to their dangling green bag of poop? Who do they think clears it up? The Friends of SCP clear it up; that’s who.
We should be braver; all of us should be brave enough to say something when we see fellow park users do stuff like this. We should be polite and non-confrontational and, for the sake of the park, we should ask people to clean up properly after their dogs.
Joan and Patrick Jones are the chairman and treasurer of the Friends of Southwick Park. They emailed us:
To all of the Country Park Team and all the wonderful extra helpers.
Joan and I would just like to extend our very biggest thanks to all concerned for the marvellous work that you performed on Sunday. We pulled in to the Country Parkon our way back today and were astounded by the amount and quality of the work you had done. Talk about “Dog poo fairies,” we reckon it was the action of “CAR PARK SUPER HEROES”.
Thank you all so much and we promise to be with you in March. See you Wednesday.
Kindest regards
Joan and Patrick
by DKG and Ian B
Today saw the FoSCP volunteers giving up their Sunday lie-in to turn out at eight o’clock in the morning to fill the potholes in the car park. The early start was intended to keep disruption to the park users to a minimum and we apologise for the inconvenience
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 