Work day Sunday 11th September 2011

Fortunately the weather was dry for most of the day. We split into three groups this time. One group repairing and replacing the fencing which was burnt a few weeks ago by the overnight camping 'fishermen'. The second group set about finishing off the steps that we've been working on for several months. Almost complete now, we just need to put some 'sides' on a few steps to retain the hogging. The 3rd group worked in the walled garden, digging up potatoes which, with the kind permission of Havering Council, were to be sold in the Essex Wildlife Trust visitors' centre and the money to go into their funds. For those of you interested, there is a small video clip on Youtube of some of our younger 'helpers' digging spuds, cut and paste the following link into your browser to view - www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRxvh7RKXJY

some pics from the day:

September Works Party

Our next work party is due on Sunday 11th September, starting @ 10.00 in the visitors' centre. Please try to come along. Various jobs to be done including litter picking (not very strenuous) to finishing off our steps, which can be as strenuous as you want it to be ! Strong footwear recommended for the steps work and maybe wet weather gear, just in case !

'Fishermen' Damage Our Park

Many apologies for not updating the blog for a few months.

We've recently had instances of so called fishermen camping by the lake. They've torn down and burnt a length of chestnut paling fence that 'The Friends' put up a few months ago to protect the wildlife along one side of the lake. Yesterday (31st August) the remains of yet another fire were found together with an old 'duvet' which had been thrown on top of it and lots of drinks cans. This time branches had been broken off to be burnt. The cans have been cleared up by a good friend of the park. The Parks Protection Service have visited the park at least twice during the last week and have apprehended several of these so called 'fishermen'. CAMPING in the park is NOT ALLOWED, as are FIRES.

I hope to have some updates and photos soon ...............

Havering Parks Protection Service

We now have a really successful Parks Protection Service. Led by Steve Rawlins they are responsible for security in our parks and open spaces. If you spot anything you think is suspicious, but not really the responsibility of the Police, then please contact them on 07904 805872, or email them at parksprotection@havering.gov.uk - anything from dumping of rubbish to anti-social behaviour to motor bikes. If in doubt please contact them anyway. They are NOT there to replace the Police though - if you think it is an emergency then please call 999.

Next Work Day April 10th

A date for your diaries - April 10th 2011 will be our April work day. As usual meet at the Visitors' Centre for a 10 am start. Let's hope we have another dry day.

Sunday 13th March Work Day

Again we split into two groups. One litter picking, concentrating on the edge of the park along Lower Bedfords Road, which has become a popular place for people to get rid of their rubbish. Anything from garden waste to car parts ! Many of the bags they filled were so heavy that they had to be left to be collected later by the other group with wheelbarrows.

The other group concentrated on putting in more

new steps. We managed two in the morning

and three after lunch. We still have to back fill and put in the landscaping fabric and hoggin but were pleased with the results so far. Here are some photos of the work in progress. Not sure whether they are blurred because the volunteers were moving so fast or just camera shake !

Work Day Sunday 13th February - Update

Today a group of us set about finishing off the steps we started in January. We had to fit 'sides' where applicable to stop the 'infill' from migrating. Then after some preparation a membrane was placed within the step area and hoggin rammed in place.

Here we are assessing the situation and

deciding exactly how to go about it.

On the right: Going about it !

Here are our first 3 completed steps. Only

about another 30 to go. These took longer to complete than expected as it was out first time. Next time things should be quicker.

Another group assisted the regular EWT volunteer to clear and tidy up the car park area.

Work Day Sunday 9th January 2011

This Sunday we split into two groups, one doing litter picking, and the other concentrating on our 'steps' project. The litter pickers did a good job, collecting 6 bags of litter. The 'steps' gang managed to install 4 steps and cleared various 'trip hazards' and a fallen tree from the path. Quite a large area of overgrown brambles were also cleared alongside one of the ponds as the path was becoming very narrow. Here are a few photos some of the steps.

Also just in case you weren't aware - Several new ponds were dug last year within the park. Without any intervention from anyone, just good old Nature, they've started to fill up. Here are a couple of photos just to prove how wet it's been!

Meeting in the Town Hall Thursday 13th Jan 2011

Our first Town Hall meeting of 2011 is on Thursday 13th January, starting at 7.30 pm and is due to finish by 9.30. Everyone is welcome.

First Work Day of 2011

Our first work day of 2011 is on Sunday 9th January. We look forward to your support ! Meet at the Visitors' Centre in Bedfords Park for a 10 am start.

Work Day Sunday 12th December 2010

As this work day coincided with the EWT Christmas event in the visitors' centre our numbers were reduced slightly as some were 'manning' tables at this event, selling bric a brac and cakes. The rest of us set about clearing a fallen laurel on the bridleway, then on to prune the hawthorn by the dipping platform. After this we spent a couple of hours cutting and moving a couple of fallen trees

from our 'new' footpath. These trees had been dead for years but the weight of the recent snow had caused them to become dangerous as they were right over the footpath where we intend putting in new steps in the near future. Here are a couple of photos taken after our 'clearance'. Prior to this the path would have been potentially dangerous and difficult to walk.