THE FRIENDS OF DOWNHILLS PARK
were established in 1999, developing out of the Parks Sub-Group of
the West Green Residents' Association.
Recognizing the
importance of Downhills Park, Lordship and Belmont recreation grounds
to the quality of life in West Green ward, the Friends aimed to
promote the public benefit and enjoyment of these open spaces by
involving local people in planning and decision-making affecting
these areas and encouraging more local people to use the parks and
take an active interest in their future.
FODP has since
spawned two very active daughter Friends groups for Lordship and
Belmont Rec, and now concentrates on Downhills Park.
The
Friends work to benefit the inhabitants of the London Borough
of Haringey in particular, but not exclusively, in West Green. They
have campaigned to reverse the decline in the park in the 1990s, to
press for improvements in its facilities while protecting its
historic character, and to enhance public interest and awareness of
the park.
MEMBERSHIP is open to any interested member of the
public over 18. To join, contact the Membership Secretary, or come
along to our Annual General Meeting.
OFFICERS: Chairman: vacant. Acting Chair: Renata Bailey.
Secretaries: Malcolm Hawley email: malhawley@uk2.net Rod Wells email: rodwells1@hotmail.co.uk
Treasurer: Sylvia Oland. email:
sylviaoland@talktalk.net
Membership Secretary:
The
next meeting is on Sunday 12 February in the
Cafe
The most recent Newsletter is available
here.
Following pressure from the Friends, Haringey Council, with
the aid of the Government's Single Regeneration Budget for West Green
Learning Neighbourhood, hired consultants to draw up a development
plan for the area including the park, and a public consultation was
held. The public voted for improvements such as better security and
access, a cafe, a pedestrian link to West Green, the
restoration of the historic Conservatory, and more.
We have
lobbied to hold the Council to carry out these improvements. Largely
as a result of Friends' pressure:
the tennis courts were repaired and upgraded and summer tennis coaching was introduced,
new notice boards and information boards were put up,
a new footpath was built through the recreation ground,
a wildflower zone was introduced, and recently bird boxes have been built for it and additional trees planted there
pedestrian traffic lights were installed on Downhills Park Road to provide a safe route between the Park and Rec Ground to the south and Lordship Rec to the north,
dog bins have been provided,
and a new rockery was built at the West Green Road entrance.
A Park Forum has been established to involve all interested bodies in joined-up information exchange and decision making.
a management plan for the park was prepared, which will help to develop it the way users want, and is now brought up to date each year by the Council in consultation with the Friends and through the Downhills Park Forum.
Haringey Council has obtained in 2006 and each following year the coveted Green Flag Award for the Park.
Check
this page of photos for recent improvements in the park (May
2009).
The Friends have encouraged community events
in the park such as the annual Art
in the Park (16 July in 2006; 15 July 2007, 12 July 2009, 18
July 2010, 10 July 2011), and in 2003 we organized a Centenary Celebration,
attended by thousands, and contacted present and former
residents to share their reminiscences in a commemoration video
illustrating the park's history and people's memories.
THE
VIDEO IS STILL FOR SALE! Contact the Treasurer.
We
liaise on local issues with BTCV
and West Green Residents' Association, who have provided sterling
help on park issues, and we have representation on West Green
Environmental Theme Group.
We have collaborated with BTCV in
planting
new trees in the park for the last three years, and in 2004 were
honoured to receive an award
under the BTCV People's Places Scheme to help restore the historic
Hornbeam
Avenue, and other areas which had suffered losses of trees.
We are very pleased that some £30,000 of funding was obtained to construct a Wildlife Pond with dipping platform, fencing and wheelchair access. The new pond is sited near the northern boundary of the park, where a pond stood until the late 1960's. BIFFA and Haringey Council's Making a Difference provided the funding.ARC (formerly Froglife) led the bid. The pond was completed in 2010 and planted by the Friends with water- and water-margin plants, supplied by ARC, to encourage wildlife. Last spring frogs were breeding in the pond. Friends have had two conservation days in autumn 2011 clearing overgrowth round the pond and mud in it. There's a problem at present with the water level which we are hoping to sort out soon.
Thousands of ponds have been filled in since the second world war, and FODP are very pleased to be able to help turn back the tide for Downhills Park by supporting the London Living Water project.
After many years of FODP activity on a Cafe
project the Cafe opened on 27 March!! This PDF
shows the installation process (thanks to Malcolm Hawley for preparing
it). If
more funding becomes available, extra modules could be added at a
later date to enlarge the building. Haringey Council have obtained a
grant from an outside body to enhance the Natural Play Area west of the
Cafe, as well as to improve equipment in the existing Children's Play
Area further south.
The
Cafe is is at present open 5 days a week (Wednesdays-Sundays; closed on
Mondays and Tuesdays). It serves the best cappucino in London, and lots
of healthy home-made food. We hope ways can be found of helping it to
open
longer. Use it or lose it!
Art
in the Park was on 12 July in 2009- and on 18 July in 2010 - and was on 10 July this year.
We
have been continuing the campaign to plant new bulbs and trees in the
Park. See pictures
We are also lobbying to raise funds to
restore the historic railings round the park.
This site
is maintained by Christopher Currie