Annual Report 21/22

Despite being in and out of lockdown over the past year, we have managed to organise a number of activities. These have included: Good Gym (last May), a bat walk to Wormword Scrubs and back (July), birds, bugs and bees wildlife discovery (July), wildlife discovery tours at the ‘sustainability’ park event (August) and a bird walk as part of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (January) where 14 species were identified.

There was also a corporate volunteering event in September organised by L’Oreal and the Friends where volunteers spent a day working in the park including renovating benches, removing weeds, and bulb planting. It is good to see the park continuing to be well used and offering a space for games, exercising, children’s play, picnics and for meeting friends and neighbours. It shows how important the park is for the local community.

Litter did not seem such a concern although there were still some barbecues which are not permitted under park byelaws. Barbeques damage the grass and in some cases when left unattended pose a danger to others, particularly children. Unfortunately there remain issues with the Council and Parks Department around maintenance and biodiversity.

Whereas in the past we have complained about a lack of maintenance, such as the weeding of plant beds, the past year has seen an over-enthusiasm for weeding which, although it removed weeds, also removed many plants that had been put in by the Parks Department and by the Friends. We also have the on-going problem of inappropriate pruning of shrubs.

We have had two meetings with the local authority, Parks Department and the maintenance contractors to discuss such issues. The Committee of the Friends will continue to pursue such issues. We want a park which is well planted, colourful, well-maintained and, very importantly, encourages wildlife and biodiversity. We had a joint meeting last year with the Wormholt Residents Association attended by the local authority including our local councillor, and the local police to discuss anti-social behaviour in the park.

Issues of concern are playing loud music, urinating and defecating, and the smoking of cannabis near the children’s playground. We shall see this summer whether any steps have been taken to reduce this problem for park users and neighbouring residents. I would like to thank the Friends of Wormholt Park, residents, our dedicated committee and local organisations who have contributed to making the park a valued asset for the local community.

You can support us by:

• Coming to enjoy and/or helping out at events we put on! Pick up a spade, get your kids to discover a bug hunt, join a bird walk
• Get your friends and neighbours to become Friends and sign up to receive emails to hear about news, events and activities – a donation of £1 is appreciated. Contact wormholtpark@gmail.com
• Take photos of /in the park to share on Wormholt Park’s Instagram @wormholtpark, Facebook & Twitter – a bird, a pretty flower, dogs or kids at play. Contact wormholtpark@gmail.com or tag @wormholtpark #wormholtpark if you want to share your images or would like to be a regular contributor
• Become a committee member or helper – this doesn’t have to be time consuming, but will help us become a more diverse and efficient group
• Offer your skills to help the Friends such as: social media and marketing photography horticulture and wildlife fundraising crafting/cooking/children’s games corporate volunteering contacts with schools, local organisations or businesses that could support us

Everything helps, so please contact us if you want to get involved in any way big or small.

• Email wormholtpark@gmail.com
• The Friends’ website friendsofwormholtpark.org
• Instagram and Twitter @wormholtpark
• Facebook: Wormholt Park
https://www.facebook.com/wormholtpark1/