LITTER PICK THIS SATURDAY, 25 JUNE 10-12 BUTTERFLY WALK SUNDAY 3 JULY FROM 11am
In Memory of Micky of Veolia
New Railings Funded and Now Installed
Olive Road Street Party Notes
**Join in the Big Butterfly Count 15 July-7 August
**Why the Long Grass Field is Important
History of Gladstone Park: Notes on Walk
Bee Mimic Hover Flies Mating
Mullein Moth Caterpillar, Walled Garden
More Walks: Dates for your Diary & Bat Strolls Info
Help Brent Council Prevent Illegal Motor Scooters
Let's Talk Climate: Have your say: Link
Glorious Front Garden? Can you Win BRENT IN BLOOM?
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
LITTER PICK SATURDAY 25 JUNE FROM 10-12
Meet at the picnic bench by the walled garden.
What3words: begin.garden.when
Rather late in the day, apologies, but the litter pick is tomorrow if you read this, this evening!!
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!!!
BUTTERFLY WALK Sunday 3 July from 11am
Meet at the green railway bridge opposite 1 Kendal Road
What3words: dwell.family.spots With Paul Busby of the Herts and Middlesex Butterfly Conservation Branch.
The Friends of Gladstone Park will miss Micky of Veolia who died recently. He was a warm, helpful and engaging person who, after years of being a London cab driver, worked for Veolia, a job he relished. He told me he loved the variety of his work, being out in the open air and being more active. We send sincere condolences to his family and all at Veolia. We shall miss him.
FRIENDS OF GLADSTONE PARK WIN FUNDING FOR RAILINGS
The railings are now in position around the two beds by the cafe and by the beds alongside the public loo and will help protect the plants there.
The area has been transformed and looks a lot less neglected.
Sincere thanks to the Edward Harvist Trust and the Together Towards Zero for funding this very special project.
OLIVE ROAD STREET PARTY Imaginative decorations were made by local people from rubbish collected by the Friends of Gladstone Park (Carer's permission was given for these photos to appear) Photo: Alyson, the organiser of the rubbish collecting group, with some of her creations. Note the knitted bunting made from plastic bags
DISPLAY BOARDS AT THE OLIVE ROAD STREET PARTY
Boards designed by David and Helen G
Butterflies seen in Gladstone Park Join in the Big Butterfly Count 15 July - 7 August 2022
Why the Long Grass Field is Important
HISTORY OF GLADSTONE PARK WALK NOTES
Cathy Mercer, lecturer and tour guide, led the well-attended walk around the park and up to the former Telephone Research centre, now flats, where the first programmable electronic computer, Colossus, which helped solve encrypted German messages during WW2, was designed and built by Tommy Flowers who has a local road named after him. We were told that the park was opened officially in 1901 and landscaped by the then Willesden Borough District Surveyor, Oliver Robson, who looked at the 'desire' lines across the park turning them into the paths we know today. A local who had lived in the area since a child spoke about how he used to jump the fence around the swimming pool in the NW corner of the park, never paying to enter! Others told about how there were changing rooms around the pool and refreshments sold. It was a good evening of reminiscences as well as being informative on a variety of other topics. Thank you to all who contributed to the Friends of Gladstone Park's funds.
BEE-MIMIC HOVER FLIES MATING
Whilst working in a local garden I heard a loud buzzing and videoed two creatures that the Bumblebee Conservation Trust confirmed were bee-mimic hover flies mating. I think you may be as fascinated as I was. Turn the sound up high! https://youtu.be/wIq5cU75JEg
MULLEIN MOTH CATERPILLAR Some of you may have noticed that the mulleins in the walled garden are being munched by a rather large caterpillar that can reach the size of a little finger. See below. It is the larval stage of the mullein moth.
MORE WALKS SATURDAY, 16 JULY: 11am: How to Recognise Tree Species with Bettina Metcalfe, dendrologist SATURDAY, 20 AUGUST 11am. Walk Along the Southern Railway Line Hedge to look at what is growing there with Helen of Friends of Gladstone Park Bat Strolls: Robert will be starting these but cannot predict the weather. Watch the Facebook pages for the dates and timing, link at the end of the newsletter. Cold weather has delayed these walks!!!
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. They 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
THE BRENT IN BLOOM COMPETITION WILL TAKE PLACE AGAIN THIS YEAR 2022
IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR OWNERS OF FABULOUS FRONT GARDENS, THOSE WHO HAVE WONDERFUL WINDOW BOXES OR COLOURFUL CONTAINERS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNAL GARDENS AND OTHER CATEGORIES SUCH AS SUSTAINABLE GARDENS AND GARDENS FOR WILDLIFE To enter and for more info on the categories:Brent in Bloom
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.
