www.hilly.org.uk

We did discuss following up on our successful dawn chorus, but we have so much going on this month that we haven’t had time or energy to arrange anything. Fortunately, Chris McGaw of Creekside Education Trust has arranged two. They start at the entrance to the Savacentre and finish in Ladywell.

The first is this Sunday 2nd and the second is Tuesday 4th, both start at 5.30am and finish at 7.30am.

There is no need to book. Check the Bird Champion site for full details on the flyer.

Have no fear they are watering in plants…although I think some are perilously close to the footfall of small feet.

and because I love our spider, here is another pic, in her new coat.

The contractors are preparing the path for tarmac on Monday and the long awaited rubber matting which goes over the grass (like at Telegraph Hill) is on order. There is a national shortage due to lots of new playgrounds all being built at once.

The contractors were busy planting up the playground today.
The new trees include
the hawthorn, Crateagus prunifolia
the cherry, Prunus avium ‘Plena’
and the oak, Quercus robur
The shrubs are
Sarcoccoca confusa
Viburnum opulus
Corylus Avellana ‘Kentish Cob’
Viburnum Bodnantense ‘Dawn’
and we have a few climbers
Clematis Montana ‘Elizabeth’ and Lonicera Periclymenum

There are also meadow plants, corresponding with some of the species in the meadow and some grasses and ferns.

Our Wild About Play Project is progressing well.

The very organic sweet chestnut tee pees are now in position.

tee pees

The slight hitch has been the lack of water. It seems the water authorities may have made a visit at some point to cut off the supply, as non of the existing pipe work has offered a drop. This now means that they will have to bring water from the loo block across the top to the playground. As the contractors also want to be sure that they have water for establishing the turf, they are not going to turf until a water supply is available. Had we had guaranteed weather, of course we could have got the turf down and it would now be establishing.

The metal work will be repainted and the bespoke timber items are the next on the programme.

Once the turf is down, we will need at least 3 weeks to let it root, and then we will finally be able to open up.

I am having a lots of upset dog owners concerned that there is some plan to stop dog walking in Hilly Fields. This is completely untrue and there are no such plans. Some of this confusion might have come from a post on the new dog control orders which now apply in Lewisham. They can be viewed on their website http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvents/News/NewsArchive/JanuaryMarch2009/DogControlApproved.htm

I have asked a co-writer to review his dog section and apologise to our valued responsible dog owners.

Our next Friends meeting will be held on Tuesday 9th March, in the park keeper’s room at 7.30.

Everyone is welcome, or you can always email anything you would like to raise. We’ll try and keep everyone updated here.
email: hillyfields4@googlemail.com

They have had a rather muddy not to mention cold start on site, but they are still on track with the programme.

I got the first glimpse of a rather wonderful slide this morning, arriving with the swings and roundabout. Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to get a picture of the slide, but here is one of them unloading what I think are the swing’s posts (although we had requested a metal toddler swing) Maybe I’m wrong?

Timberplay lorry unloading equipment

We are very grateful to APT studios for hosting this wonderful event and giving the children the opportunity to show off all their beautiful work.

The event was very successful and lots of parents took the opportunity to come along and see the exhibition.