This September the Friends of Surrey Square Park have much on their plate.
After the BBC "Breathing Places" program in the spring (the second part still to come) major regeneration project for the Park is afoot, thanks to Frank, the Kinglake T&RA has also two large development on the pipeline (the regeneration of the Kick-about field and the playground at the est side of the Wild Life Area.
So there is much to discuss and to tune-up for all the works ahead.
Only us for this tour. We had just to clean up our head and pin down some common grounds.
We all start at the Kick-about (the Sport Ground as officially is called).It is a mild worm September day.The sunshine infuses everybody with optimism and vitality, but there is a lot of ground (even literally) to cover so without much ado we have a closer look. One of the problem of the Kick-about field, now quite old is that the containment mesh is too low. the balls often end it up in the Wild life Area and there is even a hole at the back of goal post. I and other volunteer try to close it but it inevitably always reopened. These "retrieval expeditions" cause roughly 30% of the damage to the place (probably more).
The on to the Wild Life Area. Quite a transformation has gone on here since spring due to the BBC "Breathing Spaces" initiative still to be completed. Those of us that have not been here too recently appreciate the value of this additional space to the fabric of the park.
The area look verdant and has been recovering quite a bit from the work done in the spring but plenty more disturbances are still to come!!
But...even after all these travails the fox earth could still be here?
We press on down the alleyway next to the ALord Aladura Church. This passage has always been crying out for development but its natural shadiness has always been the thwarting factor in past discussions about it.
Much is made about the condition of the brick breastwork on the Surrey Square side.
Certainly Alison is disapproving of the neglectful state of the feature.
Fortunately Daniel do not miss a beat.He write down -everything-.If it was said, mentioned or suspected it'll be recorded!
We move to the Memorial Garden (actually the memory of whom it was for "Peter Martin" has long escaped the confines of our green oasis and has lost its way in the concrete desert yonder, together with those forgotten founding fathers that made it...) where much debate is taking place.
Alison find it all too much.Personally i think she takes it all too at heart.Of course this is serious business but one should remember that life goes on and one can only improve it a little bit and it should be enough. I prefer to concentrate on the more important things (also I understand little of all the technical stuff Frank is regaling us, about the bids he made and the forthcoming regeneration of the zone).Better to concentrate on the good thing in live (of course we need the Frank of this world, thank God they are not all like me!!)
Julian as well mellows somewhat to the sights of the garden.
Eventually consent is reached. Even Frank is happy and all look forward tea and biscuits at Daniel's.