This will be Members' walk to look at flowers, insects, birds - whatever turns up.

Details of the meeting place will be emailed to members.

Members' Walks are every month or two and our only activities just for members. Want to take part? Joining here costs only £5/household and you will also receive a monthly email with what is going on in the park.

Our annual Family Bug Hunt will be taking place giving people of all ages a chance to investigate some of the mini beasts in the park. Typical finds in the past were spiders, butterflies, shield bugs, ladybirds and hoverflies.

To book a place email AllyparkN10@gmail.com stating how many adults and how many children are coming.

A chance to learn a little about trees - no previous knowledge required. We will give you some pointers to help appreciate our trees in the park. Meeting place will be posted before the end of July. No booking required.

The Swingbusters are coming back to the park this summer. Come and sit on the grass or on our chairs and listen to entertaining mix or music.

They will be playing in the Grove near the Grove Cafe.

An opportunity for park lovers to join others in a relaxed and friendly group to enjoy time spent outdoors, observing nature through drawing, painting or photography. Bring something to sit on and your own materials (though some basics are provided). The group is free and open to all, whatever your level. 

Watch out for an email to book in advance, or email us to find out more. 

Flowers were abundant in number and variety in the Anthill Meadow, and the butterflies got the message and came out into the sunshine. There were large numbers of marbled whites flitting about as we worked, accompanied by meadow browns, large and small skippers, a ringlet and a large white.

Twelve of us got stuck into the business of cutting back new bramble growth to prevent it from invading the meadow, which it would so readily do. With such a wet winter and a wet spring, all plant matter has grown vigorously, especially brambles! We had a satisfying morning’s work in very enjoyable conditions and with very enjoyable company. 

What a glorious morning and a fabulous turnout of sketchers: 13 of us altogether, once everyone had navigated the park’s road closures and bus diversions for the Soapbox event! You can’t beat the combination of view and variety of trees on the eastern side of the South Slope. Some attractive swathes of long grass have been left to grow, which bring added visual interest for those who like to notice the small-scale details of grasses and wildflowers. At the end of our sessions we always gather to have a look at our work collectively and marvel at the variety of approaches and subject matter that the group chooses from the same area. 

The forecast wasn't good which probably put off a few people, but the persistent enthusiasts were rewarded with some sunshine (and a big shower) as Edward Milner led us around the Grove.

Due to the grass being wet, the hunt for spiders was concentrated on trees and under the bark of trees. We found quite a few different species of spiders some of which had never been recorded in the park and a list will be provided later by Edward. One participant was soon off to study spiders in Bali - we were suitably impressed/jealous. More pictures from the walk.

The Creative Learning Team at the palace put on the free event to try out some of the ideas that had emerged from Shaping the Grove, the consultation and engagement process run by Unit 38 and Studio Hyte on behalf of the APPC Trust. The aim of Shaping the Grove was to explore possible improvements to the Grove, and to widen the range of visitors.

  On a sunny day, a large number of families enjoyed spoken word and live music performances from a specially built stage, and there were a number of stalls (including the Friends’) plus activities for children. There was a lively and friendly atmosphere, which we have experienced in previous similar events in the Grove. As something of a test event, the palace team learned some useful lessons, such as the lack of toilets, the absence of a covered stage and inadequate water and power supplies. 

More pictures here.

An evening walk to appreciate nature in the park. Starting by the Gas Hut, we started our walk in the nature conservation area by looking at the parasitic ivy broomrape flowers emerging nearby. These plants do not photosynthesise, but gain their nutrition by tapping into the ivy's food stores.

We looked at other flowers and the odd flowering tree (elder pictured left). Also we listened to the sounds of blackbird, robin and the raucous carrion crow. The nature pond was admired and people expressed pleasure that the vegetation had been cut back giving a much better view.

We wandered alongside the reservoir, but few birds were in attendance so we checked out the remains of the old swimming pool before walking back along the old racecourse and pointed out the cricket scrub which is one the prime sites for bird watching.

What a wet May! We had a semi-cancelled session this month: because it was raining in the morning, Katy suggested a rain check. However, some participants were in transit (we do have some as far afield as Enfield!) and enthusiastic to give it a go despite the dampness, so we had a mini session tucked under trees in the Grove. This means that without fail we have now met every month for almost three years!

On a fine spring afternoon Adrian led a walk in the Western Arboretum, the area within the hairpin bend below the Palm Court entrance to the palace. He explained that the original intention seemed to have been to grow unusual and exotic trees there, but lack of maintenance meant that many of them had been overgrown by more common and vigorous species.

However, there were still interesting trees to be found, including a cork oak, a honey locust, Himalayan birches, a cypress oak, narrow-leaved ashes, Cappadocian maples, American hawthorns and a purple filbert (pictured). It was noted that planting has continued in the area – first a fine group of dawn redwoods, then a river birch and most recently, a Persian ironwood.

Due to rainy weather, our first Family Art in the Park of 2024 was postponed by a week in the hope of being able to hold the session in dry weather outdoors as planned. Alas, torrential rain meant the event had to be held indoors after all! Luckily the Park Visitor Centre was able to accommodate the eight families (13 children and 13 adults) who braved the elements for a whole range of creative activities. 

We made camouflaged binoculars, blended pastel flower drawings, drew mirror leaf studies and wrapped tissue paper flowers around twigs. It was lovely to see families (from three year olds to grandparents) getting thoroughly stuck in. We look forward to enjoying future events in the great outdoors and hope you can join us.