BAT STROLL: This Wed, 13 July at 9.10pm TREE WALK: This Sat, 16th July from 10.30am
Mindful Nature Connection Walk: Tues, 19 July at 9.30am:
Notes on Butterfly Walk
Join in the Big Butterfly Count 15 July-7 August
Brent in Bloom Competition Closes 19 August
Bats Recoded in GP in National Data
Next Litter Pick: 21 August from 10-12
Repeat: New Railings Funded and Now Installed
Last Walk Planned: Walk the railway line hedge
Help Brent Council Prevent Illegal Motor Scooters
Let's Talk Climate: Have your say: Link
JOIN EASY FUNDRAISING Nominate FOGP as your Charity
AMAZON: When buying choose FOGP as your Charity
Memorial Benches. How to buy one. New Photo
POLICE: New Info for reporting Mopeds in the Park
BAT STROLL: Wednesday, 13 July at 9.10pm
Meet at the Anson Road entrance.
What3words: scuba.going.soup
Robert will bring bat detectors and we will discover which bats are flying in the park
TREE WALK WITH A DIFFERENCE! SATURDAY 16TH JULY FROM 10.30-11.30am Starts from the old house footprint by the walled garden
what3words:plus.leaves.pops
Bettina will lead a tree walk aimed at those people who would like to improve their observational skills. She is a natural teacher and will give us guides on how to 'look' at a tree, its leaves and structure, to help us identify the genus and species. Bring magnifying glasses if you have them. Below: Metasequoia glyptostroboides or dawn redwood and a Tilia cordata or small-leaved lime both by the pond
MINDFUL NATURE CONNECTION WALK TUESDAY, 19 JULY AT 9.30am: Duration: 1hr15mins to 1hr 30mins
Meet at the upper children';s playground: What3words: curiosity.foil.square Do you often feel you go to a green space only to be distracted by your phone or maybe you walk through the park lost in thoughts or chatter?
Would you like to feel more connected with your natural surroundings and be more aware of the nature right here in Gladstone Park? Then this walk is for you.
We’ll be exploring connecting to the beautiful environment of Gladstone Park by tuning into our senses mindfully and observing how this affects our wellbeing.
The session will include slow walking, mindfulness exercises and really slowing down to take in the natural surroundings and periods of silence as well as time to share your experiences with the group. So, please note that despite the duration of the session we will not be walking very far.
This is not intended to be a hike or fast walk around the park for exercise. Notes and Safety Advice: Participants will be asked to turn off their mobile phones, so please do not attend if you need to be available phone wise or digitally during the session. Please come prepared for the terrain and weather conditions. Wear sensible shoes, bring sun protection, sunscreen, hats and water, raincoats, umbrellas etc. Please be advised that this a session is only available for adults, so please do not bring children or dogs with you. Maximum of 10 people: Email: lnjayasinghe@gmail.comto confirm your place.
This walk is free to attend, but if anyone would like to support the work of Gladstone Gardening Group then you are welcome to provide a donation at the walk.
NOTES ON BUTTERFLY WALK
Paul Busby of Herts and Middlesex Butterfly Conservation led an enthusiastic group around the park's transect route looking at the butterflies in the varying habitats.
The warm day meant dozens of butterflies were spotted and Paul was a mine of information on their life cycles, when we should expect to see them, the numbers of broods a year and their caterpillar food plants; many breed on the grasses in the park.
Highlights for Paul were the sheer numbers of meadow browns and Essex, small and large skippers especially as the latter have declined in Middlesex in recent years.(GP counts as Middlesex) He also had a glimpse of a ringlet in the damp grassland by the railway line, a species once rare/absent in Middlesex. Other species seen were comma with its distinctive wavy wings, marbled whites, speckled woods and large and small whites though these were harder to identify as they rarely rest long enough. It seems that the large white can be smaller some years and the small whites larger, thus compounding the difficulty!
Due to the many elms hanging on in the hedgerows around the park and along the railway line we should be looking out for white letter hairstreaks! Photos: Comma, my photo, marbled white on wild carrot and small skipper on Timothy grass from Shanta
BRENT IN BLOOM ENTRIES CLOSE 19 AUGUST
How to win an award. Follow link below: Brent in Bloom Application Form You have just over 5 weeks to enter your or a friend's front garden, window box or wildlife garden. Do you know of a communal garden or a business that you think could win? There are categories for junior gardeners under 18 as well.
BATS RECORDED IN GLADSTONE PARK IN NATIONAL DATA
In May this year The Bat Conservation Trust announced that the UK population of three bat species had increased since 1998 and that eight others were stable. This is good news for conservation! For the last five years data from Gladstone Park has been included in the survey. During July the park is surveyed twice by Robert with an ultrasonic detector walking a similar ’transect’. Each survey starts around twenty minutes after sunset. The data collected is merged with data from 1200 other survey sites the UK. Of the five species of bats regularly observed in the park the national data indicates an increase in the population of the Common Pipistrelle, a stable population of the Noctule and Soprano Pipistrelle, but there is insufficient data to indicate trends in Leisler’s bat or the Nathusius’ Pipistrelle.
Photo: Examining the wing showing the elbow and with the thumb clearly extended
NEXT LITTER PICK SUNDAY 21 AUGUST FROM 10-12
Meet at the Anson Road entrance
What3words: ///scuba.going.soup
Litter picks and bags provided. Wear gloves and sensible shoes.
Do join us to pick the edges and hedges, the parts Veolia doesn't reach!!!
FRIENDS OF GLADSTONE PARK WIN FUNDING FOR RAILINGS
Sincere thanks to the Edward Harvist Trust and the Together Towards Zero for funding this very special project.
ONE MORE WALK PLANNED SATURDAY, 20 AUGUST 11am.Meet at the Anson Road entrance.
Walk Along the Southern Railway Line Hedge to look at what is growing there with Helen of Friends of Gladstone Park and Bettina, dendrologist
BRENT COUNCIL WANT INFO ON ILLEGAL MOTOR SCOOTERS CROSSING THE PARK
Brent Council's Kelly Eaton would like anyone seeing motor scooters illegally crossing the park which have clear signs of the company the rider is working for to inform them by email as below. If you notice the time of scooters crossing the park and whether that is a regular occurrence that would be helpful. Brent will take it up with the companies involved.
Email: brent.parks.services@brent.gov.uk
LET'S TALK CLIMATE: BRENT COUNCIL
Samantha Haines at Brent Council is asking Brent residents to participate as below:
The climate emergency means the way we do things as a council and as a community has to change. We have launched Let’s Talk Climate: waste and green space to ask for your views on what we can do differently and what you expect from us as we work together towards a cleaner, greener Brent.
We are looking for fresh bold ideas. Your feedback could change how waste and recycling is managed, how we keep streets clean and how green spaces are maintained. It will also feed into the delivery of our Climate Strategy and help shape the future of Brent >> Watch this video to learn more, then get involved and start sharing your ideas
DO PLEASE JOIN EASYFUNDRAISING IT IS SUCH AN EASY WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FRIENDS OF GLADSTONE PARK.
For example if you buy anything from John Lewis they donate 2% of the value to the Friends! These donations help the Gladstone Gardening Group to buy tulips, alliums and other bulbs for spring colour and contribute to the perennial beds in the walled garden.
HELP MAKE YOUR PARK EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL BY CONTRIBUTING
RAISE MONEY FOR THE FRIENDS OF GLADSTONE PARK
VIA EASY FUNDRAISING
A huge variety of companies are paying charity donations via the website Easy Fundraising.
Follow the link below and nominate the Friends of Gladstone Park as your charity. Download the app which allows you to see which companies support charities this way when you use your browser. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/panel/ AND VIA AMAZON SMILE https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1180529-0
We will use your funding to encourage the park's wildlife, plant in the walled garden and copse and for projects to enhance the park
MEMORIAL BENCHES: MORE NEEDED AS WE WOULD LIKE SOME ALONG THE NEW CYCLE PATH AND IN THE PEACE GROVE. People like to rest, stare at the sun, comfort their baby or just admire the view when walking the park especially along the new cycle track where there is just one bench at present.
Is there a loved one you would like to remember and think about when visiting the Gladstone Park?
PHOTO: Husband and wife, Paul and Yvonne with Helen A taking a welcome break from gardening. COST: Email: brent.parks.services@brent.gov.uk
or speak to Brent Council on 020 8937 5619
NO MOPEDS PERMITTED TO DRIVE IN THE PARK If you see a moped in the park, photograph it with the number plate visible and take down details of the time and where you saw it. Email your ward SNT as below and the police have agreed to follow this up where there is sufficient evidence.
Mopeds are not allowed to drive through the park and people are not allowed to sleep in the park. If you have information about mopeds, rough sleeping or antisocial behaviour:
Email or Tweet your ward, either Dollis Hill, Dudden Hill or Mapesbury Safer Neighbourhood Team, (SNT), as below.
Do not put yourself at risk by taking photographs of people, but make a note of registration numbers, descriptions, time and location.
Remember that the SNT can only follow up messages when they are on a working shift, so they should not be contacted about urgent issues.
PHONE 999 if the suspect is nearby or if anyone is hurt or in danger. If you see a weapon or drug dealing and the dealer is visible, call 999. If you find a hidden stock of drugs, call 999.
