Latest news
Dates for Bark in the Park announced
The date for Bark in the Park, the ever-popular annual fun dog show organised by. the Friends of Queen’s Park and supported by Coastway Vets have been agreed with Brighton & Hove City Council.
It will take place on Saturday, 17th June in the dog area of the park.
SPONSORSHIP AND PITCHES
As usual there are opportunities for the ten individual classes, as well as the overall Best in Show class, to be sponsored.
Additionally, there are opportunities for companies and organisations to book pitches to be at the show. All funds raised go towards the maintenance and development of facilities in the park.
Click HERE to view sponsorship and pitch prices.
Sapling tree trail is set up
The Friends of Queen’s Park, working with Dr Simon Edwards, the developer of the innovative App TiCL, has established its first tree trail.
For the first of what it is hoped will be many trails, the Friends Group decided to create one for the saplings purchased with funds awarded following a successful bid to the Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund.
In March 2022 fifteen out of the 24 saplings purchased with the £14,300 awarded were planted by a team of volunteers supported City Parks’ Mark Syrett. They were placed in suitable locations around the park best suited to the species. The remaining saplings will be planted during the coming dormant season.
The additions to the park’s tree stock has kick-started the Friends of Queen’s Park engagement with local school and in July nearly 150 local school children helped to mulch the saplings.
Visitors to the park can download the TiCL App free-of-charge and look for the Friends of Queen’s Park Tree Trail.
Wherever visitors enter the park the nearest sapling will appear at the top of a list of nearby trees. An image of the tree in situ will be displayed and there will be a link providing more information about what is being looked at.
Using the App the Friends of Queen’s Park will be creating more tree trails in the future, as well as looking at others such as areas of historic interest in the park. Each will have a unique QR code.
Locations for new trees
The first phase planting of the trees purchased with money from the Friends of Queen’s Park’s successful bid to the Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF) has been completed. On-going maintenance will now become a focal point for volunteer days. This will include opportunities for local schools to get involve. Local schools were integral to the success UTCF bid.
The last 9 trees will be planted next year.
Tree planting volunteer day
You are invited to be part of the Friends of Queen’s Park volunteer force supporting the Cityparks team planting the first phase of trees purchased with the funds awarded to us as a result of our successful bid to the Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund.
Where: Open Bakery, 1 West Drive, Brighton BN2 0GD
When: 09:30 am
Until: Approximately 2:30 pm
Clothing advice: Waterproofs and hats in case of rain; Wellington or stout boots (if possible with steel toe caps)
Refreshments: The Friends of Queen’s Park will be supplying hot drinks
The planting will include a replacement for the Peace Tree cherry, which, sadly, has died. The tree forms the focal point each year for a ceremony commemorating victims of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945.
The new one will be planted close to original tree. The old plaque at the base of the old cherry tree will be re-sited at a later date.
Date for Bark in the Park 2022 is set
The date for the Friends of Queen’s Park (FoQP) popular dog show, Bark in the Park, has been set for Saturday, 9th July.
Once again, Coastway Vets will be partnering with FoQP and all funds raised will be going towards the maintenance of the park.
For anyone interested sponsoring the classes or taking a stall email: [email protected]
Click HERE to view Bark in the Park 2021 video.
Today’s tree planting is postponed
Today’s planned volunteer day, which was to be dedicated to planting the first phase of trees funded through our successful Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF) bid, has had to be temporarily postponed.
Unfortunately, Cityparks have, so far, been unable to secure the right species from their usual nursery suppliers. They are busy beavering away and aim to have purchased the trees to allow us to re-schedule the tree planting volunteer day. It will now take place on Saturday, 26th February. Specific timings and the locations in the park will be announced nearer the day.
We apologise for the short notice of the postponement of today’s tree planting session. It was out of our control.
Anyone still wishing to volunteer to support the Cityparks tree planting team on 26th February, please register your interest HERE.
Coming soon: have your say on the playground refurbishment
Photograph of Queen’s Park playground courtesy Brighton and Hove News
Brighton & Hove City Council are working closely with Friends of Queen’s Park (FoQP) and members the local community to develop a questionnaire, for the local community to have their say on what a revamped playground should look like. The questionnaire is to be posted on the Council’s consultation portal and, as soon as the consultation is open for responses, FoQP will make an announcement to encourage participation. The analysis of the results will inform the commissioning process and the key play equipment that will be installed in the first phase of the playground refurbishment. Special attention is being given to the durability of materials being used, how they blend with the environment and, importantly, accessibility for children and young people with disabilities.
The revitalisation of the Queen’s Park play playground is part of an ambitious £3 million Council scheme aimed at bringing 42 playgrounds across the city up to date.
Joint funding for Queen’s Park defibrillator
The Friends of Queen’s Park have joined forces with the Queen’s Park Tennis Club to purchase a debribrillator.
The life-saving equipment is to be fixed to the exterior wall of the tennis clubhouse and first aid and training sessions in its use will be announced once the installation has been completed.
Queen’s Park Tennis Club social membership is now available
Supporters of the Friends of Queen’s Park can now enjoy social membership of Queen’s Park Tennis club.
Social membership will entitle you to use the club’s bar and facilities, as well as getting a discount should you wish to hire the clubhouse for an event.
If you wish to register as a social member of the club click HERE.
Love trees but don’t know what you are looking at?
Register to receive your free tree identification guide to help you learn about trees and connect with the nature around you! Friends of Queen’s Park is supporting the charities, Field Studies Council and Trees for Cities, to connect people to their leafy surroundings by supplying thousands of free ID trees guides from January 2022. These guides are available exclusively for residents living in Brighton and Hove and its surrounding areas.
Register by 10th January 2022 to receive your first free guide by post later that month. Availability is limited and will be sent out on a first-come-first-served basis. Register HERE