Brent Parks launches Phase 2 consultation on re-vamping of Roundwood Park Children's Playground

Brent Parks Service today launches its Phase 2 consultation on a play area for Roundwood Park which it claims is a result of feedback on the Phase 1 consultation.   The issue of whether the rather garish off-the-peg designs are suitable for a Grade 2 listed Victorian park is not addressed nor the option of having an adventure playground type play space  amongst the trees, so popular in non-Brent Queens Park and previously, before closure,  in Stonebridge.).  The proposed changes in the options are fairly minor.

The consultation ends on September 19th 2022.   I hope that the Service has consulted with children at neighbouring Newfield and Donnington primary schools. This worked really well for the new Chalkhill Park where Chalkhill Primary School pupils fed into the planning stage and gained a sense of ownership. Ironically the playground at the Roundwood Cafe in the park is more 'natural and shaded by trees.

The survey is here.  At present you need to scroll down for Phase 2.

This is the presentation (Click on lower right corner for full size):

 

Covid-19: Brent's parks stay open but children's playgrounds, MUGAs, tennis courts and outdoor gyms to close

 Kelly Eaton, Brent Parks, Policy and Projects Manager has written to Brent Parks Forum to update them on partial closures in the borough's parks.

I just wanted to update you in this time of uncertainty with the current Covid-19 situation.

You may have seen in the news this weekend, reports of large numbers of visitors to Parks and Open Spaces.  We all know how important parks are for physical and mental wellbeing, however in the current climate we are concerned that people are not heeding social distancing advice and are crowding together in playgrounds, Multi Use Games Areas and gyms.

I am therefore writing to you as ‘Friends of ‘ groups in our parks to advise that as of today (Monday), we are closing children’s playgrounds, Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) , tennis courts and, where possible, outdoor gyms.  Signs will be placed on gates to each facility advising that it is closed until further notice. Any toilet facilities will also be closed and we are currently in liaison with the two café’s in Roundwood and Gladstone Park as to their operating status.

We do not take this decision lightly, but it has been made in the interests of public health.

I hope that you understand our decision and please contact me if you have any further questions about this approach.

We’re glad that people are still using our parks for a breath of fresh air, but we are asking park users respect public health advice to:

•           Stay two metres away from others

•           Not touch their face

•           Wash their hands thoroughly as soon as they get home

Welcome changes in Brent Parks Department's management of wildflower meadows

Cowslips in the wildflower meadow at the University of Westminster, Northwick Park

I was very critical when Brent Council decided to save £450,000 by creating wildflower meadows in its parks. I suggested that just letting the grass grow did not in itself constitute a wildflower meadow.  Seed sowing, plug plants and correct management to ensure that the meadows are not overwhelmed by thistles etc are all essential. It seemed more of a cost-cutting exercise than a positive commitment to bio-diversity. LINK

At a recent meeting of Brent Friends of the Earth I was pleased to hear from the very enthusiastic new head of the Brent Parks Service, Kelly Eaton, that one third of each meadow area in our parks and open spaces will be sown with both annual and perennial seeds over a three year programme.  Preparation will involve tilling the seeding area. Predictably Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt was recently involved in a rather artificial photo opportunity:

In her talk Kelly Eaton also said that she would looking at the potential phasing out the use of pesticides in parks and open spaces over the near future. Glysophate is still used in Brent despite the controversy over its  possible association with cancer. 

There is now a biodiversity page on the Brent Council website which is still being developed, that explains the wildflower project: LINK 
 
To increase the amount of biodiversity in our Parks and Open Spaces, a change has been made in the way our grassed areas are managed. Our larger parks allow for a wide mix of uses of the area; including amenity grass to allow for ball games and picnics as well as the newly introduced meadow areas.

This year, we are also introducing wildflowers into our meadow areas. Not only will this introduce bursts of colour into our meadows, it will also lead to increased visits from butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees and numerous other pollinating insects.

The planned wildlife meadow areas in some of our parks and open spaces:

-->It is refreshing to be able to publish some goods news from Brent Council  and I also welcome changes in the Parks Department in terms of the management of allotments that has meant, as far as my own site at Birchen Grove is concerned, a more proactive approach to letting overgrown plots. Great stuff. Next focus Brent's street and park trees?

Meanwhile if you fancy an early morning outing there is a Dawn Chorus Walk tomorrow, Saturday May 4th, in Gladstone Park. Meet at 5.20am at the Anson Road entrance.

The biodiversity web pages will focus on a different park or open space each month. LINK

Breathing London - Brent's Parks and Open Spaces (as you've never seen them before)

Guest post by Philip Grant

I have just heard about the "Breathing London" project organised by the Royal Photographic Society earlier this year, which aimed to capture the diversity of London's public green and open spaces. It produced a website with a large gallery of photographs, which you can visit and search by borough to see pictures of parks and open spaces, large and small, in your area.Link

One of the local photographers taking part was Gareth Davies from Kingsbury, who specialises in 360 degree panorama images. He photographed all 92 of the parks and open spaces listed by Brent Council as public spaces which they (or the City of London) maintain in the borough. His fascinating pictures are on the "Breathing London" website, but you can also view them as a slideshow on his own website. Link  

 

 There you will find local parks that you did not know existed, and some that you have never visited, but will know that you want to visit now. Why not go and explore some of them (perhaps with your children or grandchildren, in the school holidays) this summer?

Help raise funds for Brent Sickle Cell Support Group on Sunday

In the light of recent cuts to essential services for those with Sickle Cell Disorder within Brent, urgent financial aid is needed for Brent Sickle Cell Support Group.

This group was formed over 31 years ago, by mothers wishing to share their experiences, offer information, advice and a wealth of understanding, to others in similar circumstances. So that they did not feel alone and overwhelmed struggling to understand the condition and the impact it would have on their lives.

Since then, they have grown with the help of wonderful volunteers and have acted as a patient advocate and liaison with the NHS, they have supported families in hospital, and offered respite breaks for parents.

They run an annual summer day trip for families, fully subsidised by the Brent Sickle Cell Support Group to theme parks and seasides across England. Over 900 trips in total. 

They also host a Children's Christmas party, attended by over seventy children and their families.

To continue this invaluable service in the community and to enable outreach education, Brent Sickle Cell Support Group will be doing a fundraising walk across all Brent parks, on Sunday April 30th 2017, starting at 9am in Barham Park. 

They will walk around each park, then continue on to the next. This will include King Edward VII Park, Wembley; The Welsh Harp, Gladstone Park and Queens Park, until they reach their end point, Roundwood Park where there will be a picnic held at the finish for all families and supporters. Lunch will be provided for those who participate on the walk.

We need YOUR support! YOU can really make a difference!

Cheques to be made out to Brent Sickle Cell Support Group or you can make a donation on the day at Barham Park or Roundwood Park.

For more information, or if you would like to participate or volunteer please contact 07947306733

Dog walkers to be restricted to 4 dogs per person in Brent's parks

Following a review of the Dog Control Orders introduced last year,  Brent officers are recommending that the maximum number of dogs walked by one person in Brent's parks and open spaces is reduced from four to six. LINK

This follows complaints from the public about bigger packs of dogs nor being under control, consultation with the Kennel Club and discussion with insurers of  professional dog walkers.

Enforcement continues to be an issue.