Friends of Queens Park, Brighton

Bark in the Park 2024 date

The date for Bark in the Park, the Friends of Queen’s Park’s ever-popular community dog show has been fixed for 2024. The date agreed with heading sponsor Coastway Vets, is Saturday, 1st June.

As ever, there will be opportunities for the sponsorship of each of the classes, as well as further opportunities for traders to join in the fun. To find out what is available click HERE.

Queen’s Park history walk

Local historian Peter Crowhurst (pictured) has agreed to give a history walk on Sunday, 2nd June starting at 11 am starting at the Park Street park entrance and concluding at 12.15 at the cafe.

The walk covers the development of Queen’s Park and those adjacent streets, which were once part of the park’s estate, from the time it was open farmland in Hilly Laine to when the park was landscaped for use as a public park becoming, perhaps, the most ornamental park in Brighton at the time.

The talk will look at the various owners, including a Hong Kong cattle rancher and a mad Cardinal, and their contribution to this development and the buildings they constructed. The German Spa, an archery ground, a roller skating rink, Attree’s villa and the Pepperpot were all part of the story that will be told.

Numbers will be restricted and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Anyone interest in learning about the history of Queen’s Park should click HERE.

Herbie rides again

Julia Behrens, who established the herbal beds in the Wild Garden, will be giving a talk about all the herbs growing there on Wednesday, 29th May from 5 pm till 6 pm.

Numbers will be restricted and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Anyone interest in learning about all the Wild Garden herbs and what an exerienced herbalists such as Julia use them for should click HERE.

History walk – extra date announced

As a result of over demand for places, local historian Peter Crowhurst (pictured) has agreed to give a second history walk on Sunday, 30th June starting at 11 am starting at the Park Street park entrance and concluding at 12.15 at the cafe.

The walk covers the development of Queen’s Park and those adjacent streets, which were once part of the park’s estate, from the time it was open farmland in Hilly Laine to when the park was landscaped for use as a public park becoming, perhaps, the most ornamental park in Brighton at the time.

The talk will look at the various owners, including a Hong Kong cattle rancher and a mad Cardinal, and their contribution to this development and the buildings they constructed. The German Spa, an archery ground, a roller skating rink, Attree’s villa and the Pepperpot were all part of the story that will be told.

Numbers will be restricted and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Anyone interest in learning about the history of Queen’s Park should click HERE.

Date for butterfly walk

Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Huw Morgan will be giving a guided butterfly walk on Wednesday, 5th June.

The walk will start at 11 am and end at noon. Those signed up to the walk are asked to meet in front of the Queen’s Park Tennis Club house.

Those joining the guided walk are asked to make a donation to Sussex Wildlife Trust.

The places on the walk are being all allocated strictly on a first-come-first served basis. Register HERE. 

CAROLS IN THE PARK 2024

This year’s Carols in the Park will take place on Friday, 6th December outside the Royal Spa Nursery with admission from 6pm onwards.

Your help needed

Once again the popular event will feature the Salvation Army brass band and the Vox Community Choir. However popular Carols in the Park is, nothing can happen without volunteer support to help make it happen. So here are the tasks for which the Friends of Queen’s Park is seeking support: 

Before the event 
– Putting up posters
– Helping to collect equipment by car

Woof! Woof! It is nearly time for Bark

It is nearly time for the annual canine fest, better known as Bark in the Park.

It takes place on Sunday, 25th May in the dog area of the park. Registration for all the classes will start in the Coastway Vets‘ tent at 11 am, with the first class, Cutest Puppy, opening the show at noon.

The climax of the event will be the judges’ pick for the top title, Best in Show and that will take place around 3.15 pm.

The will more stalls offering dog-related products, providing helpful dog care information and, of course, there will be a range of food options on offer too.

Commenting Geoffrey Bowden,  chair of the Friends of Queen’s Park and presenter of RadioReverb‘s Pet Show, said: “This is always a joyous fun community event that helps raise much-needed funds for the maintenance of the park and there is already quite a buzz among local dog owners.”