CHairman's NEWSLETTER October 2020

Dear Friends,


It has been seven months since we were able to meet in person and, given the current restriction, it maybe another six before we will be allowed to do so again. The lively discussions we used to enjoy would be hard to sustain through Zoom screens. Therefore, we thought it would be nice to circulate a newsletter letting you know what has been happening in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. 


In October we marvelled at the skilful planting of 200,700 bulbs by Job of Holland while, at the same time, being descended upon by 1000 Extinction Rebellion protesters camping in the Park. Bulb Valley rewarded our efforts with a spectacular flowering starting in early March and continuing until May of this year. Many people commented on the delight such explosive spring-flowering afforded them. Well done Jeremy for organising this project and following it through (and thanks to Lambeth for funding it)! 


Last year we commissioned DSDHA to provide a solution to the unsightly junction at the entrance of the Park by Muscovy House, and at our last meeting, in March they presented some proposals to the committee.  Lambeth had earmarked 100K for the Park which we were hoping could be spent on this project. However, their priority is now focused on the need to resolve the flooding of the footpath from Auckland Street to Vauxhall Walk. 


There is the prospect of some additional 106 funds becoming available. If that is the case, the entrance improvements could become a reality and will be executed as the next phase of the new Masterplan.


Another addition to the Park is the Mayor of London funded water fountain. Thames Water installed it by the Hugo Bugg garden and, due to Covid, will not be made operational before next year.


I am glad to be able to report that, in the middle of 2019, the large Coriander advertisement on the wall behind the Arena, which was intruding an unwelcome commercial note into the natural harmony of the gardens, was taken down.  At the end of the year, the razor-wire which had been hanging over the gardens from the top of the wall was removed, together with its brackets, thus putting an end to an unsightly blemish reminiscent of a war zone.

By any measure, this has been an exceptional year with urban parks proving themselves a lifeline for those who have no other access to nature. At the start of lockdown parks were a place of quiet solitude. Soon they became the sites where people could still congregate. 


During late spring and summer, the Pleasure Gardens were crowded by families seeking serenity and relaxation. Celebrations, small events, sports, all were held in parks. As wonderful as this was, the grass in the VPG took quite a hit, especially from daily volleyball matches, just as it was starting to recover from the Extinction Rebellion encampment. This will be rectified next spring when Lambeth will temporarily fence-off all areas and reseed.


With a reduction of income, Lambeth's finances are more stretched than ever.  Once again, the Friends stepped up to pay for watering and weeding by the Kennington Lane entrance, the Cherry Walk and Swale Garden during the very hot summer.  Since maintenance cost are starting to add up, this coming year it is crucial that we organise some guerrilla gardening events. This will not only save us money but will also allow us to enjoy each other's company outdoors since we can't yet meet indoors.  I hope you will all join in the effort to keep our Park in great shape and retain the Green Flag Award soon to be installed by the entrance!




ANOTHER DAY OF BULB PLANTING!

Today Eamon, Jeremy, Frances, Kate and Paola were on site sorting out the remaining thousands of daffodils and other flowering bulbs. We had a major help from Michael and Colin ( from Lambeth Parks) , four great volunteers from BENEFACTO and a brilliant group of young people from the NEW SHOOTS program at Vauxhall City Farm . A HUGE THANKS TO ALL THAT HELPED US! We started at 8 am and continued in various shifts until 1.30pm but we finished planting them all! Come spring we should have quite a flowering !

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Bulb Planting today

Today some of the Friends ( but far too few) with the help of Lambeth and Vauxhall City Farm who lent us their Community Payback team we planted thousands of daffodils and other flowers on the mounds by the entrance. A HUGE THANKS to all those who helped!

Another planting will happen soon. Please come along. Every one welcome!

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Official Opening of the Cherry Walk by Sean Rafferty 8 May 2017

Last night the Ceremony for the Official Opening of the Cherry Walk  took place in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Sean Rafferty, the extraordinary host of BBC's Radio 3 In Tune was the official guest of honour. The Cherry Walk was commissioned and funded by the Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The designer, world-renowned landscaper Todd Longstaff-Gowan was also present at the ceremony. The Friends committee was there in force as were members of local organisations, Lambeth Council and the local  community. Chair Paola Piglia and Vice Chair David Wheeler gave short speeches to introduce the project and the guests of honour. Mr Rafferty cut the ribbon and unveiled the plaque ( which will be fixed in place in the next month or so). It was a very pleasant event and the Friends and the community all look forward to the many years of flowering and dry path across the park !

he Chair Paola Piglia and Vice chair David Wheeler introduce the project and the guests

he Chair Paola Piglia and Vice chair David Wheeler introduce the project and the guests

Guest of honour Sean Rafferty and designer Todd Longstaffe-Gowan

Guest of honour Sean Rafferty and designer Todd Longstaffe-Gowan

Paola hands scissors to Mr Rafferty

Paola hands scissors to Mr Rafferty

Sean Rafferty prefers to cut the ribbon

Sean Rafferty prefers to cut the ribbon

The deed is done: The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Cherry Walk is officially open!

The deed is done: The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Cherry Walk is officially open!

The Black granite plaque

The Black granite plaque

Guests at the opening

Guests at the opening

Theresa Hoare of Lambeth parks Development, Kate Pode, Eamonn McMahon talk to Sean Rafferty

Theresa Hoare of Lambeth parks Development, Kate Pode, Eamonn McMahon talk to Sean Rafferty

Theatricals from Harry Iggulden from the Tea House

Theatricals from Harry Iggulden from the Tea House

Caroll Bentall , Vauxhall City Farm manager and other farm representative with donkeys Bert and Ernie

Caroll Bentall , Vauxhall City Farm manager and other farm representative with donkeys Bert and Ernie

Carol shows off Bert and Ernie who were very good and did not eat the decorations

Carol shows off Bert and Ernie who were very good and did not eat the decorations

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ALPHA WINS BEST IN SHOW at the FOVPG DOG SHOW

It was a fierce competition and there were many worthy winners in all the categories, including: Neo, Rocky, Maya, Maddie, Bonbon, Fendi, Cocobel, Chuck, Sweetie Pie, Poppy, Bernie and Portia, but it was Alpha ( the large white German Shepherd/Malamute) who bagged Best in Show.

Thank you to all the participants. All went home with at least one rosette!

A huge thanks to David Amos for judging and to Cosimo and Maria for being his assistants!

Alpha , winner of Best In Show is congratulated by other canine winners

Alpha , winner of Best In Show is congratulated by other canine winners

Winner of Most Like its Owener

Winner of Most Like its Owener

FOVPG DOG SHOW ON 23rd April at 2pm

ENTER YOUR DOG IN THIS FUN DOG SHOW ORAGANISED BY THE FRIENDS OF VAUXHALL PLEASURE GARDENS. Registration starts at 1.30 pm for 2 pm show.

Sunday 23rd April in the area between the Tea House and the Black dog pub.

Prizes and rosettes for all!

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Crocus hare has been planted

Today the FoVPG with huge help from Community Payback, Vauxhall City Farm and Lambeth have planted thousands of crocus corms bought for the Rotary Club, Purple4Polio charity.

There was a lot of digging and planting, pizza, tea and drinks. Everyone worked very hard and we shall have to wait next spring to see the results! A HUGE thanks to all who helped! We could have not done it without you!

Theresa Hoare and the Community Payback team

Theresa Hoare and the Community Payback team

Frances puts in the finishing touches

Frances puts in the finishing touches

This is what it should look next spring 

This is what it should look next spring 

WORK HAS STARTED ON THE CHERRY WALK!

Work on the FOVPG's Cherry Walk scheme started last Monday and should take about 4 weeks to complete. The drainage plan for the resolution of the flooding of the diagonal path has already been completed. Next will be the laying of the new path and finally the planting of the trees and making good of grass etc. It si going to be fabulous!

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Cabinet Gallery Opened tonight!!!

Finally Cabinet Gallery opened tonight . A great addition to the area and the Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens wish Charles and Andrew all the best!

Check this FT article where the Pleasure Gardens are mentioned as ' slightly scruffy south London park". We'll we'll show them!

https://www.ft.com/content/b8be754e-856b-11e6-8897-2359a58ac7a

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The FOVPG have been shortlisted for Planning and Placemaking Awards

Some months ago DSDHA and The Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens had entered a competition for the The Planning & Placemaking Awards for the entrance, the statues and the lowering of the mounds. Their entry has  has been shortlisted in TWO categories: Award for community-led place-making AND Award for London Placemaking. The Awards presentation will take place on Wednesday 29th June at Savoy Place, 2 Savoy Pl, London WC2R 0BL. Fingers crossed!

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WE DID IT!!! THE BEDS ARE LOOKING LOVELY

Today 6 of us spent 4 hours of very heavy duty weeding, and we finished!!!  We think the beds look great. Vauxhall One has offered to contribute £ 250 to the project and we are going to use it to cover the cost of the bark and to buy some more plants. A HUGE thanks to all those who participated. It was a lot of work but well worth the effort.

The weeding party and guests

The weeding party and guests

Grace who was of great help

Grace who was of great help

Another young helper

Another young helper

BEFORE ( A ton of weeds)

BEFORE ( A ton of weeds)

That's what I call guerrilla gardening!

That's what I call guerrilla gardening!

Finito!

Finito!

Hopefully that will be it for a few weeks! Thanks to all that helped!!!

Hopefully that will be it for a few weeks! Thanks to all that helped!!!

 

 

 

MORE WEEDING. WE NEED PEOPLE!!

This morning another weeding party set to work. Kate, Eamonn, Frances and Paola weeded part of the other bed. It was a huge job and the team managed to weed only half the flower bed in 3 1/2 hours, before a downpour stopped us.  We need  more volunteers to finish the job!!! Please come and help.

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WEEDING THE FLOWER BED BY GLYN STREET

Today Kate and Paola had a weeding/pruning session at the flow bed by Glyn Street. It was a LOT of work ( both morning and afternoon) but the result was worth it. New week we'll take the other bed. Please Join us!

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CHERRY TREE WALK

The Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens have commissioned renowned landscape architect and historian Todd Longstaffe-Gowan (http://www.tlg-landscape.co.uk) to design a cheery tree walk on the diagonal path that leads from the main entrance to the park to the newly built Cabinet gallery and Tyers Street.  

The ornamental flowering trees will be planted in clusters, will likely be a mix of native and exotic varieties to ensure maximum impact of colour variations, flowering times and sequencing to prolong the flowers. This will not only maximise the visual effect but also benefit pollinators throughout the spring and summer and allow for grater biodiversity. The project will also tackle the ongoing flooding of the path by raising and rebuilding it, as well as creating a swale gardens where the water will be redirected and absorbed by a cluster of willow trees.  

The Friends are currently planning to fund the scheme and its maintenance , but are eager to find sponsors that can match fund their investment. Donations of single trees, tree clusters, tree guards or benches to be interspersed through the trees would be most welcome. All donations  will be much appreciated and acknowledged.

Prunus accolade, one of the varieties proposed

Prunus accolade, one of the varieties proposed

The plan for the scheme  under discussion at the moment

The plan for the scheme  under discussion at the moment

Proposed various tree varieties

Proposed various tree varieties

Raised path and tree size ( tree guards not approved as proposed)

Raised path and tree size ( tree guards not approved as proposed)

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Fire Festival on Halloween night

Vauxhall Trust CIC has once again organised their Fire Festival.  This year’s main show on the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens on Saturday 31st October 2015 (6.30-10pm) will be “The Legend of the Trickster God Loki and the Dark Elves”. The story of how Thor got his hammer.  A combined arts spectacular featuring dancers, fire performers, poets, musicians and pyrotechnics told in front of the famous Vauxhall Bonfire. 

Get there early as it will be very busy!

Fire Arms incident incident in VPG

Chief Inspector Roy Smith has updated the Partnership with regards to a serious incident that took place in Vauxhall

At 1201HRS on the 20th September 2015 reports were received of shots being fired in Goding Street / Pleasure Gardens, Vauxhall. A male was seen being chased by a group of suspects and a firearm was discharged. 

A male has been arrested in connection with this incident and enquiries are ongoing. 

Anyone with information or potential CCTV footage is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting 1229257/15

Additional armed & un-armed patrols have been tasked to the Vauxhall area.

2015 AGM of the FOVPG

Yesterday the FOVPG had their AGM and a new committee was formed as stands as:

Chair: Paola Piglia

Vice Chair: Mark Harrison 
Treasurer: Anne Whitaker

Secretary: Kate Pode


Extended committee - 
The Farm- RVT / GBF (Jason Dickie) - VGERTA/Vauxhall 5 (Jean Uzoma)  - KOV/Tea House -(Freddie Rushton)- Lambeth Council (David Amos or any other local councillor)
Co-opted members - David Wheeler - Diane Lawley

Thank you to all who have attended and hope to see you again at our next meeting on the 5 October ( venue tba)