A message from the Chair of Friends of Chinbrook Meadows

 Dear Friends,

Join in the Apple Fun Palace

in Chinbrook Meadows

Saturday 7th October 1.30-4.00pm

I wanted to update those of you I have not spoken to recently about our planned Apple Day. The plan originally developed with Maggie from the Chinbrook Meadows Community Orchard which is in the allotments at the end of Marvels Lane and we had thought to do our event on both sites but we have decided to run the event just in our park orchard in the meadows (on the Bromley side of the railway near Portland Road). ChART (http://www.chartbiglocal.org.uk) were keen to be involved and are able to offer funding to make it a really great day.

We are now calling it an "Apple Fun Palace", linking up with a national event called "Fun Palaces" ( www.funpalaces.co.uk ) which is about bringing communities together to learn and have fun together over that weekend.

Don't worry that our orchard is still quite young and there don't seem to be any apples left on the trees!  We will still be able to celebrate our orchard.

Here's the plan so far...

1.30 - Live music and "yarn bombing". We will decorate the guards around the trees to make them look amazing.

Please bring sections of knitting to add, or crochet or whatever you can do, bring bits of wool to weave and knit onto the structures.

2.00 - Apple tasting (voting for favourite) apple pressing, apple bobbing, some history and science. Making sun prints - using objects from the environment to create pictures using special paper

3.00 - Learn about bees, a demonstration hive will be in the orchard        

            Make candles from bees-wax

3.45 - Finish by making a big, communal apple collage picture using leaves 
and other natural objects gathered from around the park

The most important thing is to come along on the day but here are some extra things you can do.....

·        Put up posters in the area (I can get these out next week I hope)

·        knit/crochet/macrame sections of wool to add to display

·        bring natural things like feathers, leaves, twigs, seeds etc to create sun prints and use for collage

·        help set up on the day (email me if you can help in the morning)

·        help supervise the activities

·        help clear away at the end

There is still more planning to do and if you want to make any particular contributions let us know. The idea behind "Fun Palaces" is that EVERYONE is a scientist and EVERYONE is an artist! so don't be shy.

Look forward to seeing lots of you there.

Anne

Anne Slater (Chair of Friends of Chinbrook Meadows)

blog: http://chinbrookmeadows.wordpress.com

Animal Serial Killer is Back in Bromley

A resident has asked us to post the message below, which they spotted on the Facebook page of ‘SNARL’, concerning an individual suspected of harming cats in Bromley.  Readers are asked to contact the police and SNARL if they spot a man matching the description given.

he website for SNARL is at http://snarl.org.uk/ By clicking on the link you can view more information (although much of it was posted a year ago). The website has a link to their Facebook page which is more up to date although I have not been able to find the post shown below. 

'From: SNARL (South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty)

CRIME & SAFETY - The animal serial killer is back in LB Bromley after a known absence of about a week ... I predicted this a couple of days ago as it is a preferred area for his vile activities. So please read the fuller description of the suspect in the SNARL status shared on here by a couple of other members, continue to be vigilant, raise awareness and keep your cats in (to minimise the 'supply' that feeds his gratification)

Do not approach, just call police. This is a very general description which could fit any number of people. It will not make you a hero or do you any favours if you harm someone innocent. We reiterate: call police if seen in a situation as described below.

If you see a man in his 40s, white, with short brown hair, between 5'8 and 5'11', average build, possibly with some acne scarring to his face, dressed in dark clothing, with or without a torch, trying to coax cats with a toy or feed them or looking or entering gardens, please dial 999 quoting Operation Takahe and then also call us on 07957 830490 or 07961 030064.

He may be wearing a headlamp or carrying a torch.

Do not approach him or confront him (he may be completely innocent, plenty of people out there trying to rescue or help cats), just call the police and us and let us deal with it.'

T

Roslin Way Allotments Open Day September 9th

RHS Garden Wisley is under threat

Anyone who loves trees and the environment (and we know that many of you do) should sign this petition, although the junction of the A3 and the M25 does need to be improved:

sign the petition

We are worried that some potential Highways England plans could cause irreversible damage to Wisley in the future and hope you might help us to protect this very special and much loved place.

As you may be aware, plans are now being finalised to improve the M25 Junction 10 interchange and widen the A3, which is something we support in principle. One of the possibilities being considered by Highways England, in terms of widening the A3 only, could see over 10,000 sq. metres of RHS Garden Wisley grabbed and over 500 trees destroyed.

There are currently two options available to Highways England to widen the A3: one on the east side of the A3 and one on the west.

The RHS has carried out expert highway studies and is calling on the Government Agency to choose the east option, which does not grab woodland from the Garden, would not fell any of these 500 important trees, and would better improve road access to Wisley.

If Highways England decide that widening the west side is the preferred option then irreplaceable historic trees that are over 100 years old, and still have centuries more to live, could be eliminated for a short-sighted road improvement scheme, which would increase air pollution and noise pollution and destroy the habitats of a wide range of wildlife and the beauty of the garden.

Five trees that would potentially be lost are identified as threatened and endangered in cultivation by Plant Heritage’s Threatened Plants Project. Excellent specimens of giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum, pictured below) would also be at risk.

We’re also concerned that some proposals for the A3 would involve additional travel for our visitors to get to Wisley, some adding over 6 kilometres to the journey, which is unacceptable. We need our garden to be as accessible as possible for everyone, especially with our major investment plans to make the garden better than ever before and to welcome more visitors. Therefore more direct access to and from the A3 to Wisley is vital and must also be a key consideration for Highways England as they consider their preferred option to safeguard to future of this very special place, which millions of people enjoy over the years.

If you are also worried about the potential destruction of these 500 beautiful trees and impact this will have on RHS Garden Wisley please show your support and sign our petition:

sign the petition

You could also write to the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR and voice your concerns. We have drafted a template letter for you in case that is helpful (click here for template letter), and please feel free to amend as you wish. If you would like to you could also write to your local paper or national newspapers.

CLOSURE OF LONDON TRAIN TERMINALS

CLOSURE OF LONDON TRAIN TERMINALS - SATURDAY 26 AUGUST - SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

In case you’re not aware, there will be no train services running to and from London Bridge, Waterloo East and Charing Cross from Saturday 26th August to Saturday 2nd September inclusive.

Cannon Street will also be closed on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August.  

Blackfriars will be closed on Monday 28th August and Saturday 2nd September.  

The closures are due to the major engineering works connected to the modernisation of London Bridge.

If you are planning to travel to central London during this period, you are advised to check alternative routes and allow extra time for your journey.  Further information can be found on the National Rail Enquiries website - click here​

Nuisance due to Garden Bonfires

Bromley Council has produced a leaflet called Nuisance from Bonfires
You can click on the link to download it. The main points are shown below:-

What’s wrong with a good old fashioned bonfire?...

A garden bonfire may seem like a practical way of getting rid of garden waste and other rubbish; but they are not usually the most environmentally or neighbour friendly way and most of the waste could be put to better use.

Public Nuisance
Each year Bromley Council receives a considerable number of complaints from residents
affected by smoke and ash from their neighbours garden bonfire. Smoke and ash prevent your neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening windows and hanging out washing.

Air Pollution
Bonfires add to air pollution and can produce poisonous and irritating gases.

Dangerous
Fire can spread to fences and buildings and also scorch trees and plants.

Legal Position
There are no bye-laws which control the lighting of bonfires - but under The Environmental Protection Act 1990 smoke and ash from a bonfire causing annoyance to neighbours could be an offence rendering the person having the bonfire liable to prosecution.


Bonfire Code

Remember it is not illegal to have a bonfire and there are no local bye-laws preventing
you having one, however you must not cause a nuisance to your neighbours. A smoky
bonfire or having garden bonfires on a frequent basis may well cause a nuisance and
that can be an offence.

So, if you want to have the occasional garden bonfire - you will minimise the effect on
your neighbours by taking the following precautions...

• Only burn dry materials
• Never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres, plastics, foam, paint, treated or painted fence panels/ or wood.
• Never use solvents such as meths or petrol to light or encourage a fire
• Never have a bonfire in unsuitable weather conditions
• Avoid burning at weekends, bank holidays and when neighbours want to enjoy their gardens
• Never leave a fire unattended
• Douse with water if bonfire becomes a nuisance.

Grove Park Carnival and Chinbrook Meadows Dog Show