SUMMER 2014 ISSUE NUMBER 5
Flanders poppies in bloom
Litter volunteers Litter is a problem in many parks
and ours is no different, but we work hard to keep it clear of litter for residents and visitors alike. The Friends’ efforts are spearheaded by Peter Vincent who makes regular sweeps during the week and at weekends.
A vibrant sea of red poppies,
largely sown using seeds from Flanders fields, has been on display adjacent to the steps leading up from the café terrace. Sue Daniels, leader of the Friends gardening team, came up with the idea to create a ‘field of red’ as part of Tunbridge Wells commemorations for WWI. (right) Council staff supported a group of volunteers from the Friends who spent a sunny Saturday preparing the ground and planting out the seeds and plants. The poppies looked really beautiful at their peak.
Growing for gold!
with golden and yellow fruits, blooms and leaves can be enjoyed in the planters around the café. They form part of the Tunbridge Wells Herbs, flowers and vegetables
submission for the 50th Anniversary version of ‘RHS Britain in Bloom’ competition. Volunteers of all ages were involved with growing the plants from seed and then planting them out. The veritable harvest in the large wooden manger was created
by a group of pupils from Claremont Primary School, whilst the black tiered planters are the result of Friends’ valiant work. The vegetables and herbs are intended to be for the benefit of the whole community so please help yourself when the crops are ready.
Mela brings in large crowds
food and music event took place in the Grounds back in mid-July. It was a great success, with large crowds enjoying the music and food in the sunshine. We hope that the organisers can find sufficient The Mela multicultural
sponsorship for next year so we can all continue to enjoy this colourful and lively spectacle in the park. Come on you business owners - it is surely good publicity to be linked to such a successful event!
Sunflower successes
well established annual sunflower growing competition for primary school age children generated around a dozen measureable entries this year. Allegedly some potential winners were savaged by a fox only days before the judging took place! Lisa Grant presented prizes to the winners: Katie Child (top row below) in the 6 years and over category; and Sophia Deeprose-Kedge in the 5 and under category (bottom row). Well done to them and thanks to all for participating. Our
Poppies and poems for WWI commemoration Inspired by the poppies planted
by the Friends and guided by their teachers, Mr Green and Miss Pratt, all the pupils in year 6 at Claremont Primary School wrote poems on the theme of the First World War. The eight pupils chosen to read out their work were all presented with certificates on behalf of the Friends by Gary Faulkner, Chairman of the Tunbridge Wells Branch of the British Legion. “The poems demonstrated great creativity and dealt maturely with the aspects of loss and remembrance across the generations”, said Sue Daniels the leader of our gardening team.
Thanks are also due to Lisa Grant for her liaison work with the school. You can read the winning entries on our notice board in Calverley Grounds over the next few weeks.
What’s On
in Calverley Grounds Sat & Sun August 23rd/24th -
Live’- music festival Fri August 29th -
‘Local &
Family Fun Day
FoCG Information Chairman Jim Kedge (521787) jimkedge@blueyonder.co.uk
10‐year Vision questionnaire points the way forward Thanks for your enthusiastic of what incremental facilities/ participation, with a 64% response infrastructure enhancements should rate to our questionnaire, we have we focus on was less clear cut: got some clear guidance on the children’s play/adventure equipment areas in the Grounds where you led the way with 34%, but wild would most like to see improvement flower meadow/habitat for insects and investment: over 70% of etc and visual focal point/water respondents selected the location of feature/bandstand etc were both the old bowling green and pavilion supported by a healthy 25% of as the prime target site. The respondents. A nice dilemma gravelled area in front of the café deserving of more discussion with (dubbed the ‘dust bowl’!) was the Council's Parks team. second with 20%. But the question Thanks again for your support.
Vice Chairman Nick Pope nicholas.pope@yahoo.com Secretary Jane Fenwick fenwickjane@yahoo.com Treasurer Lisa Grant chavassier28@yahoo.co.uk Facebook: FriendsOfCalverleyGrounds Twitter: @FoCGTunWells Email: friendsofcalverleygrounds @yahoo.co.uk