Category Archives: Parks & open spaces

‘Alice in Winterland’ commercial event planned for Southwark Park

Posted on by

A large-scale commercial event will take over the northern part of Southwark Park between November and early January.

According to the licensing application, “Southwark Park Lantern & Lights Festival is a unique lantern experience themed around Alice in Wonderland. The experience will take place in the Northern section of Southwark Park. Lanterns are being designed around the popular children’s classic, Alice in Wonderland and will include a walk through the story created in lantern format.

“The event has been designed to be interactive using slides and other audio visual effects to explore the lanterns. There will also be food and beverage traders, entertainers on the bandstand and special effects. The event will be ticketed and both pre-sale and on the door tickets will be available.

“The event is created by Things to Do Ltd. Unusual Expo have designed the lanterns and Continental Drifts will manage the event.

“It is likely there will be two bars at the event which will be in two separate areas. There will be on bar at the bandstand area as well as one location on the lights route.”

Lion & unicorn plaques unveiled in King George’s Field

Posted on by

Two new heraldic stone plaques were unveiled in King George’s Field, Rotherhithe, by the former Mayor for Southwark, Cllr Kath Whittam, earlier this month.

The stone plaques were funded through Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council’s Cleaner Greener Safer (CGS) programme

The Friends of Southwark Park applied for CGS funding to create replicas of the stone plaques, as the originals were destroyed during the Blitz.

The plaques show symbols from the royal coat of arms; a Lion (England) and a Unicorn (Scotland).  The plaques were made by London company – Priest Stoneworks – and can now be found at the entrance to King George’s Fields, Lower Road.

Cllr Barrie Hargrove, Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Safety, said:  “These heraldic plaques are a fantastic way to bring Southwark’s history back to life and continue to ensure that these green spaces are maintained for the public, now and in the future.”

Southwark Park and Russia Dock Woodland in the running for national parks accolade

Posted on by

Downtown Pond

The Fields in Trust UK’s Best Park Award is now open for a public vote to select the nation’s favourite local park.

A total of 64 of London’s cherished green spaces – including Russia Dock Woodland and Southwark Park – are featured in the 360 UK-wide nominations each a much-loved part its local community. Now it is time to choose the winners via an online public vote at www.fieldsintrust.org/bestpark/london

Royal visit to Rotherhithe: Princess Astrid opens St Olav’s Square

Posted on by

Princess Astrid, sister of King Harald V of Norway, opened the new St Olav’s Square in Albion Street on Sunday 17 September.

St Olav’s Norwegian church, which stands near the entrance to the Rotherhithe tunnel, formerly a mission to sailors in nearby Surrey Docks, now serves Norwegians living throughout the UK.

The church has worked over several years with Southwark Council to improve the area in front of the church. This involved the removal of the disused public toilets and a car park and opening up the space in front of the landmark church, newly visible to traffic approaching from Jamaica Road.

After a church service led by The Revd Torbjorn Holt, the Princess and invited guests gathered in the new square for the unveiling of a new bust of King Haakon VII, which is based on a full length statue in Oslo. Haakon’s biographer, Tor Bomann Larsen, spoke about the King’s life in wartime London when having refused to abdicate in face of demands from Germany, regularly attended St Olav’s Norwegian church and attended to Norwegian government business in exile.

Leader of the council Peter John, past mayor and local councillor Kath Whittam and cabinet member for regeneration Mark Williams were presented to the Princess in recognition of Southwark’s partnership in the creation of a new public open space as part as the ongoing regeneration of the Albion Street.

Wreaths at a restored war memorial were laid by veterans of the wartime Norwegian shipping fleets, including Donald Hunter who served as radio officer on three Norwegian merchant ships carrying dangerous cargoes to allied forces.

The small fountain in the garden was donated by a Norwegian family in memory of their daughter.

£1,000 boost for ‘Edible Rotherhithe’ project

Posted on by

Edible Rotherhithe, a newly created community gardening and arts group, has been selected to received £1,000 after applying for funding from organic skin and haircare brand Green People.

In celebration of its 20th year, Green People launched a national campaign – ‘Change the World in 20 Ways’ – where individuals and groups across the UK were invited to apply for £1,000 to put towards projects to make a difference in their local communities.

Edible Rotherhithe will be transforming a disused piece of land on the Silverlock Estate into a community allotment.  The project will enable local residents to grow their own food – promoting healthy eating and outdoor activity – whilst also becoming a welcoming social space to host community dinners with produce grown on the site.  In addition, there will also be workshops in arts and crafts to increase the skills and confidence of local residents and an amphitheatre for community film and theatre events.

Christina Wheatley, who nominated Edible Rotherhithe, commented: “We’re so excited to have been selected as the recipients of £1,000 and have great plans to take our project further.  We’re helping to bring about positive change in our part of the world by kick-starting a new community garden and teaching space through the purchase of a polytunnel that will provide sufficient room for food growing and educational workshops.”

 

Find out more about Edible Rotherhithe on Facebook and Twitter.

Out-of-borough visitors to be charged £8.50 for Southwark Park fireworks

Posted on by

Southwark Council has confirmed that it will once again stage a fireworks display in Southwark Park, this year on Sunday 5 November.

21,000 tickets are available; these will be free for people who live in Southwark, but because of the risks associated with the night’s huge popularity and the significant cost of bringing Southwark fireworks night to residents, those from outside the borough will have to pay a small fee.

Last year Southwark residents booked 62 per cent of the tickets.

Of those 62 per cent, 48 per cent came from the SE16 area and a further 26 per cent
came from the adjacent SE1 area.

Non-Southwark residents will be charged £8.50 for admission to the event, with child tickets costing £2.50 and a family ticket available at £20.

The council hopes to raise £10,000-£15,000 from ticket sales to help offset the cost of the event.

Gates will open at 5pm, with food, drink and entertainment available until 8pm. Last entry to the park will be at 6.30pm. Ticket holders are strongly advised to arrive as early as possible, to avoid disappointment.

Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Social Regeneration, said: “At Southwark Council we are very proud of our magnificent annual fireworks display. It’s a really special family and community event.

“Please do book your tickets as early as you can and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Southwark Park on 5 November.”

Tickets will be available on a first come first served basis from 22 September, so residents are encouraged to sign up early at: www.2.southwark.gov.uk/fireworks

Riverside Day Centre seeks public support for crowdfunder backed by Mayor

Posted on by

 

The Camden Society, which runs The Riverside Day Centre in Bermondsey, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to transform the centre’s underused car park into a beautiful food growing garden and art studio. The project will ensure that people with a learning disabilitycan learn skills and discover new interests, whilst also being open for the local community to use.

The centre currently supports around 90 people with a learning disability and provides a tailor-made service that allows people to plan how to spend their day. Due to the immanent closure of the charity’s South London centre, The Riverside must expand its services to ensure it can accommodate more people each day.

The crowdfunding campaign has already received a £10,000 pledge from the Mayor of London. Thanks to further pledges from the public, local and national businesses, 83% of the funds needed have been raised. However, as this is an all of nothing campaign, if they do not reach their target, they will lose every pledge.

The charity is appealing for public support to get behind the campaign and help them reach their goal.

Pledges can be made to the project here: www.spacehive.com/a-space-for-art-and-nature