green+spaces+-+local+parks+-+lordship+updates+-+Feb+08


 * __Brief Report of Lordship Rec Users Forum meeting, 21st January 2008 at Broadwater Centre__**
 * Present:** Joel Hirsch (West Green RA), Michael Loughnane (LBH Parks Manager), Su Jolly (Broadwater Farm Community Centre), Bev Willie and Hilary (Bruce Grove Residents’ Network), Emma Harrington (LBH Recreation Services), Dave Morris and Joan Curtis (Friends of Lordship Rec), Martin Burrows (Back to Earth Projects), Helen Steel (Friends of Lordship Rec and park staff), Paul Ely (LBH Recreation Services). **Apologies:** Irene and Brian (Friends of Graham Lee), Anne Gray (West Green RA), Bernadette Riganti (LBH Neighbourhood Mgt), Rebecca Turpin (BTCV), Steve Hill and Caroline Jepson (Friends of Lordship Rec),


 * 1 Minutes of 18th Dec 2007 meeting** Agreed


 * 2. __Matters arising__ //a. Greenway route//** Final snagging (finishing off works) still to be done - likely to be April to allow ground to dry out. Michael Loughnane to co-ordinate with the contractor. **//b. Pipe works//** Thames Water and Gas Board works near woodland - Michael Loughnane to co-ordinate with the contractors.


 * 3. Woodland Project** 17 people took part in Friends work-in to try to finish laying the woodchip pathway on Sunday 6 th Jan. Plan to do more work soon (see Friends meeting report, at end).


 * 4. Lake** Staff have planted grasses around the south side. Additional benches and picnic tables put in. Diseased chesnut trees cut down.


 * 5. Broadwater Farm Community Centre a.** Site for container for park workers' equipment has been installed by the Brakethru Cycle Club one. **b.** The proposed improvements to the grounds have been put on hold until the result of the Lottery bid for the Rec is known. **c.** Centre plan to do a mailing to all 1100 homes on the estate - the Friends will contribute an update re the Rec.


 * 6.** **Back to Earth Projects** In discussion with the Centre and CONEL, plan to launch regular cafe sessions, involving different communities and a food co-op. Haringey Primary Care Trust may also be interested in helping. A 13-week pilot will hopefully kick off in April.. May also link to food growing / allotments etc - 'Plot To Plate'. Also developing partnership with local schools regarding the plans for the Environmental Centre.


 * 7. Brakethru Cycle Club** The meeting were unsure how the club was progressing. //Update:// Brakethru is now active on all weekdays.


 * 8. Model Traffic Area and cycling** Martin Hall (Parks Service) is setting up meeting with the Company of Cyclists who are planning to set up their London base in the Community Centre and arrange activities in the Model Traffic Area with Haringey Schools etc. This is independent of the Lottery bid.


 * 9. HLF Bid** 2 more HLF reps visited the Rec, with Paul and Emma representing the Council and Dave representing the LRUF. The visit was more challenging that the first one, with more searching questions about the proposals. Main issues this time included: the current usage of the park and how this would be dramatically increased if the bid is successful; management and co-ordination of the improvement works and all the partnership-working planned; the viability of the proposed farm; future use of the Shell Theatre as an auditorium. The Council have continued to work on the bid, provide answers to various queries from the HLF, and develop some of the partnerships proposed.

All in all the feeling of the meeting was that the Parks Dept and LRUF have worked very hard together over the last 5 years, developed a great 'masterplan' and pulled out all the stops for a highly-impressive HLF bid. Its hard to see what more could possibly have been done. If the bid is unsuccessful it will be a gross injustice. We would have to put into action 'Plan B' - ie raise the money needed from other sources, and carry out the key improvements planned step by step, jigsaw fashion over the coming years.


 * 10. Lordship Rec Community Festival 2008** We agreed to hold the festival again on 13th September. Joan and Dave will finalise draft summary/letter/plan for it and send out to community groups and LBH depts, seeking commitment to support, funding, involvement etc. Agree that the next LRUF meeting will focus on organising the festival.


 * 11. __Any other business__** a**. Walpole Rd entrance.** The overgrown bushes have been cut down and will be replaced with flower beds. **b. Freestyle area.** Continuing flooding problems, despite specialist pumping equipment clearing it. Contractors who installed it are to be contacted regarding ongoing blockage problem needing longer term remedy. **c. Emma Harrington**. Emma, the Lordship Rec Project Officer who has worked very hard (and to great effect) on the HLF bid over the last 6 months, is unfortunately leaving. We all thanked her and wished her well. A new Project Officer will be employed.


 * 12. Next LRUF Meeting:** Monday 25 th February at 6.30pm Broadwater Centre.

Friends of Lordship Rec ** at the MTA building in the children's area of the Rec
 * __ Brief Report of Friends meeting, 3rd February 2008 __**


 * Present:** Helen T, Kala, John, Vicky, Gary, Joan P, Nina, Dave, Joan C, Caroline **Apologies:** Andy, Helen

- the **//Jan 6th Friends work-in//** attracted around 15 people, and lots of interest from passers-by. We shared food and had a lot of laughs. Most of path completed. - Joan has drafted up designs for our **//display/notice boards//** to be put there - We agreed to organise a **//Spring Work-In and Celebration, 2pm - 6.30pm on Sunday March 16th//**. All welcome. 2pm: Work-In to complete the woodchip path + litter pick etc. 4pm or 5pm: Refreshments in the MTA hut. 6pm: Celebration / Launch in the Woodlands. Bring a lantern for a walk through the woods.
 * 1 Woodland/Thicket Project**

- the **//old chestnut trees//** by the west side of the lake have unfortunately had to be cut down as they were diseased - Nick and Helen, the two Lordship Rec gardeners, have planted **//long grasses//** around the south side of the lake - the **//new benches and picnic tables//** are now in, thanks to the Making A Difference fund grant obtained by the Friends
 * 2. Lake**


 * 3. Walpole Rd**
 * //- southern entrance / Rusper Rd//** The overgrown bushes, which made some people feel unsafe entering and leaving the park, and led to rubbish-dumping problems, have now been removed. Park staff have created new flower beds there instead.
 * //- northern entrance / near the Church//** Walpole Rd residents have asked what the current policy is on locking that particular gate at night. It seems that that gate and the Higham Rd gate have been often locked on a 'hit or miss' basis. We need to investigate. Other entrances are kept open for pedestrian/bike access at all times. There should be no vehicle access at any time, except by agreement with the Parks Dept.

- Metropolitan Police officers were observed last week riding on motorbikes in the park in an unsafe and unacceptable manner, including upon the wooden slopes of the adventure playground. This sets a very bad example. The Friends have sent an email 'complaint' to the Borough Commander seeking strict Guidelines on when and how police vehicles should be allowed to enter/operate in a park. We await a satisfactory reply.
 * 4. Motorbikes**

- the climbing web is to be removed as unsafe. There is funding available for a complete makeover for the whole play area. Unfortunately the Council dont feel there is enough time to consult with users and put in new stuff before the summer, so it is planned for the autumn after this year's festival is out of the way. It was felt that a poster should be put up explaining what's happening.
 * 5. New children's playground**

- The Broadwater Farm Community Centre kindly invited us to put something in their next mailing to all 1,100 doors on the estate. Joan knocked up a 'Lordship Rec News' A5 newsletter which Dave printed at the Recreation Services offices. It gave us the chance to explain all the recent news (lottery bid, woodland and lake projects, playground plans and hopes for this year's Festival). More copies are available for distribution.
 * 6. Friends Newsletter**

- John, a regular runner around the park, attended his first meeting here as he wanted to float the idea of a new Lordship Rec runners club. For example runners could help each other to 'pair up' where one person otherwise might feel unsafe, could lobby for improvements to paths or for 'trim trail' equipment, could organise fun runs etc. Everyone was very positive about this. It was felt that one way to start was to help out with this year's fun run at the Festival in September. If anyone wants to help with this, contact dave@cupboard.org for the moment until a group takes shape.... - Nina and Gary informed us that the **//Lordship Rec walking group//** (Monday mornings, 9.20am at the Downhills Pk Rd gate) was thriving, with about 20 regulars. All welcome.
 * 7. A new 'Lordship Runners Club'?**

- The Lordship Rec Users Forum have decided to organise this year's **//Lordship Rec Community Festival on Sat September 13th//**. Joan and Dave are finalising initial publicity and Joan is looking into applying for grants etc. We need early commitment for support, funding, publicity and involvement etc. It will keep its community-led and 'self-organised' DIY character, have an expanded 'green' theme, and hopefully more activities organised by community groups who've not been involved before. The Sustainable Haringey network have agreed to get actively involved.
 * 8. Future of the Lordship Rec Community Festival**
 * //- Horticulture Show://** Joan applying for Awards For All funding.
 * //- Various sport/fitness activities://** We agreed to look into a Making A Difference fund application to help with this year's Fun Run, Cycling, SkateJam, Football etc activities. Emphasis on trying to involve participants in the organisation of the events.

- There was a second **//HLF visit to the Rec//**, which Dave was asked to attend (and did). A decision is expected in March. - It is generally felt by those involved in the bid (led by the Parks Dept and the Lordship Rec Users Forum) that we have all done all we possibly can. The partnership-working over the last 5 years has been second to none, and the application/masterplan for the park is excellent and deserves to be accepted. If we dont get the money we'll just have ensure that the park is regenerated bit by bit! - The people involved in the new **//Haringey Back To Earth project//** are planning to get the Broadwater Farm Community Centre cafe used, and investigating sources of funding for the new Environmental Centre and City Farm is the bid is unsuccessful.
 * 9. Heritage Lottery Fund bid**
 * -** The Council have been providing **//further information asked for by the HLF//** about the application for £3.6m for regeneration of the Rec.

- the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum and Parks Dept are working together to investigate the strengths and potential of Friends groups and Friends/Council partnership working around the borough. Ashley Grey has been hired to co-ordinate this. A detailed Questionnaire (which Dave helped draft) has just been sent to all groups, and there are also workshop/discussions arranged for Friends reps. It was agreed that Joan and Dave would finalise our responses to the Questionnaire, and also attend discussions on our behalf.
 * 10. Supporting Haringey's Friends of Parks - consultation and Questionnaire**


 * 11. Contractors** We want to ensure contractors finalise and do works properly on the new path, plus regarding the gas and water pipes near the Lordship Woodland/Thicket. There has been email correspondence about this.


 * 13. Note: ** At the end of the meeting we shared a lovely meal prepared at home and brought in by Kala.