Today's brief report from the Park
21 February 2012 |
Now that half term is over, there were less people in the park, but still quite a few roaming around. Breezy, but already becoming milder as the weather men have forecast, and in fact I sat on a bench below the cafe enjoying the sun and having a cup of tea. Spring really is showing signs of springing, albeit some areas are jolly muddy - to be expected at this time of year!
Tony and his team were busy spreading mushroom compost on the long border. There is a fine display of snowdrops down the zigzag path and near the summer house, AND some of spring flowering cyclamen the Friends donated which were planted in the autumn are flowering by the rockery - so pretty !
The vandalism I reported previously seems to have stopped (for the moment), possibly because of an evening police presence recently.
There will be a 2013 Dunorlan Park Calender, Rachel Luckhurst is again prime organiser and this year we are running a photographic competition for the calender... WATCH THIS SPACE, MORE SOON. |
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Waiting for Snow !!
04 February 2012 |
A very cold amble round the park today with the hound - not many people braving the arctic weather. Tony Ewins has reported further vandalism to the living willow wall, I had a quick look - soooo depressing - why do they do it?? But at least we (Tony and Team) should be able to repair it I think. Both ponds and the lake are iced over - just a small bit of open water left at the moment for the ducks, geese and moorhens - life is very difficult for them when it is this cold, not only food-wise, but also they become vulnerable to foxes when the lake is iced over and their islands become accessible. On the food front, the Friends provide grain for the birds from their Bird Seed Fund (thanks to everybody who donates to this) - invaluable at this time of year - I delivered 4 bags of grain to Tony on Thursday, and at the weekends, when the park team are not there to distribute the grain, bread from park visitors is very welcome !! Icicles (is that how you spell it?) on the fountain and a big pile of mushroom compost in Halls Hole Road car park ready to be incorporated into planting beds when the weather improved. |
 
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SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD !
19 January 2012 |
The bright frosty weather brought out lots of people last Sunday and all seemed well with the Park. However..... yesterday I heard from Tony Ewins that our play area had been vandalised - the likely culprits being a snot of yoofs (my collective noun !) who had been seen roaming around the park - part of the living wall had been ripped out and the 'drums' had been terminally damaged as you can see from the pix. Both things can be repaired at not too much cost, but as ever one wonders what on earth they got out of destroying things which give children (and grown-ups) much pleasure. Bored and disaffected I suppose, so sad. Not all bad 'tho, because I noticed some Wych Hazel is in flower - a burst of yellow winter joy! |
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Sunday perambulation
08 January 2012 |
We are stuck in anti-cyclonic gloom at the moment - high pressure and oh so grey, as well as continuing to be unseasonably mild. Anyway, despite the gloom, the park was quite busy and seemed dominated by happy children and equally happy dogs ! Not yet mid January and quite a lot of plants in flower as well as some rather luscious Rosa rugosa hips which I photographed. What is in flower - well: Viburnum tinus, heather, a number of different varieties of rhododendron here and there, Euphorbia wulfenii (I think - Tony may put me right on this), a couple of snowdrops next to the zigzag path, mahonia and just one white camelia. Probably other stuff too, but that's all I noticed. |
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New Years' Day
01 January 2012 |
Doodle and I went for a New Year lunch time mooch in the park - a grey and drizzly day degenerating into quite heavy rain by the time that we left, (but oh so mild) and even so the park was busy with families, dog walkers, lone walkers and the occasional jogger. It was clear that the favourite Chrissy prezzy for small children this year was foot scooters closely followed by mini-bikes - much hurtling around was observed !! Anyway, we got jolly wet and quite muddy, Doodle wrecked one of his tennis balls and went into (temporary) decline until he forgot it and we then trundled home for a late lunch!
Here's hoping that 2012 is better than the pundits would have us believe possible, and at the very least kind in one way or another to all of us. And looking forward to seeing Friends' Members as our annual celebration next Friday.
Diana |
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Pre-Christmas Blog
18 December 2011 |
The hound (Doodle) and I donned boots (well I did anyway) for our walk in the park today, although there had been quite a sharp frost in the morning with the remnants of ice on the lake and ponds, it was a bit grey and jolly muddy when we were in the park. As ever 'tho, despite the conditions, there were still plenthy of people in the park - loads of other dog walkers as well as a number of families perambulating, and the cafe seemed busy.
As I walked over the board walk at the boggy bit towards the Bayhall Road end of the park I noticed another length of old hedgerow had been beautifully layed - this was done (I think) at the beginning of the week by volunteers from AXA under the expert guidance of the Kent High Weald Partnership. The upper pond is now almost full and the dipping platforms fit much better now that they don't look as if they are perched miles above the water. The lake is also filling up again after all the recent rain we have had and there is even a trickle of water over the cascade. There are some Rhododendrons flowering down towards the fountain as well as lovely patches of purple heather in the long border.
I hope you all have a very jolly Christmas and New Year and see you at the Friends annual Celebration on 6 January 2012 !! |
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Chairman's brief update
02 December 2011 |
I've not been to the park this week, but after all the rain we had last week the upper pond should be filling up nicely !
The November newsletter is in the system. Those with emails will have received an electronic copy and the paper copies will be delivered by Valerie Storey and her redoubtable team imminently ! |
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| Tragedy in the park |
| The dragon(ess) gobbled down a small noisy child this afternoon, belching loudly with satisfaction. |
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