News August 2015

We have published our newsletter for August 2015. The text is below and the PDF is available via the link at the bottom of the page.

HIGHLANDS GARDENS is located at the junction of Abbotts Road and Leicester Road.

Autumn Picnic Saturday 12th Sep 2015 2pm-4pm

Please come along on Saturday 12th September 2015 from 2pm to 4pm. Bring a picnic blanket or chairs to relax. Come and meet your neighbours. There will be free nibbles, cakes and hot drinks and games for children.

Please note that should the weather be unkind to us this event will be cancelled. Check the sky or the notice board nearer the time for information. We will also have a key for the toilet block (which is only open on special occasions).

Friends Group Update

The Friends of Highlands Gardens Committee meets every few months. The complete minutes are available on our website www.highlandsgardens.org.uk. Our main focus has been on the stream bed and we are pleased to announce that the council have appointed a contractor to repair the cracks in the stream bed. A new pump will also be installed in the lower pump house which will enable water to be pumped and the stream to flow again.

Fire!

The conifer tree by the pergola was burnt down and the fire brigade had to put it out. The remains will be removed. The council is also planning to thin out the conifers along the Leicester Road frontage to open up views into the park which should be an improvement.

Wildlife

The following have been spotted in the gardens this year, dragonflies, frogs, newts and four Koi carp, one of which is extremely large. There are also several goldfish. What have you spotted in the park this year? Why not let us know?

Thank YOU

A big THANK YOU to everyone who uses Highlands Gardens and picks up the litter left by less tidy people. Please also continue to use the Dog Waste bins to keep the area as clean and safe as possible. Anything we can do to keep our space looking good and feeling welcoming can only benefit us all.

Gardening Club

The Gardening Club continues to meet although numbers have been low. We are going to send out email reminders to all those we have an email address for to try and drum up some more support for this. Dates will be advised by email or look for notices on the notice board. Please come dressed for gardening, with gloves and stout shoes. All ages and abilities welcome.

We are ten years old

Our first ever meeting was on the 2nd March 2005 so we are pleased to celebrate ten years of work in the park. Ten years ago the park was looking somewhat neglected with broken bridges and a distinct lack of attention from the council. Thanks to the friends and the green spaces team at the council, that is no longer the case. If you have ideas or thoughts about future projects in the park, or would just like to share your memories of the park then please let us know.

Notice Board

Take a look at the Notice Board in the Gardens for up to date information on our gardening club (first Saturday of month from 10am - noon) and other activities.

London gardens online

London Gardens online http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/ has a brief description of the gardens which says; Highlands Gardens was formerly the garden of Highlands House, built in 1897 for Bevan Braithwaite, who probably laid out the gardens. When he sold the property in 1930 the house was converted into 8 flats, although it later reverted to a family home after 1951. It gradually deteriorated and was eventually demolished in 1972 when the current flats were built. During WWII the garden was dug up for vegetable plots. Now open to the public, the gardens retain features from the old layout, including terraced lawns and water-gardens up the western side, with C19th rock-works, cascade, rustic bridges and an octagonal wooden summer house.

Our own website (detail below) has information about our activities and more about the park.

S.N.T.

Don’t forget the Met Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team: Office 020 8721 2846 for reports of any anti-social behaviour. The general number for non-urgent calls is 101.

Contact

Visit our website www.highlandsgardens.org.uk or email us (address at bottom of page) or https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfHighlandsGardens

Don’t Forget

We hope to see you at the Autumn Party – Saturday 12th September 2015 from 2pm.

Support Us

We ask for a small suggested annual donation of £5.00 to help us with the administrative costs (which are very small) of the Friends of Highlands Gardens. The donation also covers the cost of public liability insurance which is necessary so we can have working parties in the garden & hold community events, like the recent picnic. Please drop it in to Helen Oubridge (Hon Treasurer). Please make cheques payable to Friends of Highlands Gardens & send them to 122 Leicester Road. Please state your name, address and email address. We email rarely and do not share your details. Many thanks.