Over 100 friends of Bromley’s parks and open spaces attended a summer barbecue at Scadbury Field Studies Centre on Thursday 1 September - to thank them for their valuable work over the year.
Seventeen ‘Friends Groups’ across the borough give residents a say in how their local parks are run and help them get involved with decisions which could otherwise be left solely to the Council.
Friends groups are involved with a huge number of incredibly diverse projects including litter picking, graffiti removal, bench painting, gardening, organising events, fundraising and initiatives to encourage more visitors. In addition to training and expert assistance with projects, the Council provides health and safety equipment and tools.
A ‘friends forum’ has recently been set up to enable friends groups to link together and support each other.
Neil Reddin, Executive Councillor for Community Safety and Leisure said: “Friends groups work tremendously hard all year round to maintain and improve parks and open spaces across the borough. I want to put on record a very public thank you for this very valuable work which is not often widely recognised outside the Council, but which contributes to the leisure facilities available to everyone. I would also invite anyone who would like to join a friends group, or to form one, to contact the Council.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
- Friends groups currently exist for Hayes Common, Hayes Parks, Kelsey Park, Scadbury Park, Jubilee Park, Bromley Town Parks, Croydon Road, Hollydale, Priory Gardens, Poverest, St Georges Churchyard Beckenham, Well Wood, Chislehurst Conservators, High Elms, Bromley Volunteer Ranger Service, Whitehall Rec. and Royston Rec.
- For further information on friends groups mentioned, to form a Friends Group for your own park, then please contact the Parks Project Officer - Partnerships on 020 8313 4471.
- Chris Cairns, Communications Officer, London Borough of Bromley
Telephone: 020 8461 7911