ARTS

http://www.thisisull.com/poetry/garyclark/1772228834_garyclark2.html
http://www.worthing.gov.uk/worthings-services/leisureandculture/parksampopenspaces/paintingandpoetryinthepark/ (2008)
http://www.academi.org/all-lit-up/i/130525/
http://www.valeriegillies.com/public.html
http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/archives/publicart/hubbard/opening/
http://www.agendapoetry.co.uk/documents/JuliaForster-Essaypdf.pdf (an essay)

POETS IN THE PARK:

LESLEY SAUNDERS:
-- did a poetry project a couple of years ago to celebrate the sculpture exhibition in Abbey House Gardens, Malmesbury: http://www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk/index.htm - two of the poems, Architect and We Must Remain Silent, appeared in Divers.

-- her new book - Her Leafy Eye (Two Rivers Press) - was inspired by 18th century Rousham Park Gardens in Oxfordshire: http://www.rousham.org/
-- her current project is based at New Hall (now Murray Edwards College): http://www.newhall.cam.ac.uk/grounds/gardens/

CONSERVATION

BTCV (British Trust Conservation Volunteers) and TRUE (Trust for Urban Ecology).
London Head Office York Way.
http://www.btcv.org

Provides ponds, paths, logs for stag beetles and 'mini-beast' habitats to promote education and to create habitats for insects and wildlife.

RECYCLING- SOLAR PANELS FROM DRINK CANS

Save the World! Recycle!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg4xrduHWZo

LOCAL HISTORY

Try to talk to the people who grew up near Your Park, as well as searching archival maps, Family Records Office, Holborn Local Archives and local history Books.

the Records offices tell you who lived where; the people will tell you how they lived. For instance Judd street OIpen Play Area (aka Judd Street Park) is also known amongst people who live in the neighbourhood as 'Bamber Green' after the adjoining Bramber House council estate adjoining the Park. Mary Scales, who grew up in Great Ormond Street (and remembers, as a child,  Clare Court being built, which also adjoins the Park) said:
'I've never heard of Bramber, or Bramber Green. We didn't call it anything, because the Park wasn't there, it was all houses before it was bombed during the War. We kids had to make our own fun. We played 'Knock, Knock' on the houses, and ran down and up the path of the garage,  along Clare Court, before anyone could catch us!

For anyone considering being a Friend of a Park, see if you can arrange a showing of the wonderful film 'Their World This Time'  (director Chris Reeves, Platform Films, see below: VIDEOS). This moving documentary is about the opening of private garden for all the children of the neighbourhood following the death of a child playing in the street near the British Museum. Sadly, for the children of the community,  after a few years, the private garden space was closed to them again.
http://www.craftcentral.org.uk/platform-films-video

FESTIVALS AND OPEN SQUARE DAYS

Ask your local Councillor who to contact for advice if you are planning a talk or festival, as there are insurance considerations for a festival.  Camden Council often provides grants or insurance and will provide entertainers, such as the excellent Pete Watson Trio that played the Friends of Brunswick Square (FOBS) event, as part of Open Square Weekend, Sunday, July 13th, 2009.

VIDEOS

Their World, This Time
34 minutes
English
1994
director: Chris Reeves
Platform Films
http://www.craftcentral.org.uk/platform-films-video

1945. Post-War London faced serious housing problems, and desperate homeless people occupied empty houses, hotels, and camps . The government requisitioneded empty properties to tackle the problem.
In 1950, after a child was killed playing in the street because there was no other place to play, an adjacent unused garden near the British Museum was used as as a park for children of the temorary residents. The communal park for the children remained until 1954, when the Conservative government returned the garden to its rightful owner.  

A moving statement of why Parks are important, for everyone in the community, not just then, but now, with invaluable archival footage and interviews of the people involved (and footage of the Squatter's Strike, including footage of local hero, Johnny Morten, being arrested for throughing food up to the Strikers).

Platform Videos are a commercial company, and they are also available to do videos for comminity projects.
FROM THEIR WEBSITE:
Platform has completed numerous broadcast programmes, including a three-part series on disability and homelessness: Who Killed Mark Faulkner?, made through BBC2's Disability Programmes Unit in 2000, a 52 minute documentary on the Gulf War for Channel Four's Critical Eye series, and a five part history series and feature length documentary on Northern Ireland for Channel Four's The Eleventh Hour. Non-broadcast clients have included: TV Choice, Writers Republic/UNISON, Shandwick, The Green Party, Amnesty International, Unity Theatre Trust, The National Federation of Estate Agents and Short-Life Community Housing.
We have the experience, specialised knowledge and in-house equipment to meet your video requirements at a cost to fit your budget. We realise that what works for one organisation may not work for another, so we are keen to spend time with our clients at the planning as well as the production stages to ensure that your message is projected in the way you want. In addition to complete programme making packages, we can offer just our broadcast quality editing services, location or studio filming with our BVW400 Beta SP shooting kit or the cheaper DSR PD100P DVcam format, video projection, small-scale video duplication and music composition for video.
Get in touch to discuss your production needs or simply for advice. Let us make video work for you
http://www.craftcentral.org.uk/platform-films-video

RECOMMENDED PARKS

Peckham Rye Park (some projects in the park were installed by BTCV (British Trust Conservation Volunteers) and TRUE (Trust for Urban Ecology). CONSIDERATIONS: Dog Walkers, Joggers, Children, Cafe in the Park, Excercise in the Park,  Walks/Keep Fit,  Play Areas, Bowling Green, Community Gardening, Area Park Warden, Community Outreach, Problems in the Park: Anti-Social Behavior, Graffitti and Litter, Vadalism.
http://www.foprp.org.uk/today.html
.
FRIENDS OF PECKHAM RYE PARK
http://www.foprp.org.uk/

BOOKS, ARTICLES, ART,  MUSIC  AND POEMS

'It's all too beautiful'
A refuge for lovers, loners, children and outcasts - parks provide the settings for some of our most innocent and illicit encounters. No wonder they are such  an inspiration for novelists. William Boyd takes a literary tour of urban oases

WILLIAM BOYD
Guardian 20.06.2009

[EXCERPT]
Definition of a park. It's time to establish precisely what we mean by a "park". I'm thinking principally of London, but I feel this definition will fit all parks in all cities of the world. There are certain determining characteristics, necessary conditions, for park status. First, there must be tall, mature trees, the older and taller the better. Second, the majority of the trees in the park must give the impression of random planting - no rectangles or neat lines, by and large. An avenue here or there is allowed, an allée, but we need the illusion of spontaneous, unplanned growth. Third, the ground must undulate in a significant way - flatness is not a park-criterion. Fourth, there is the question of scale: you mustn't be able to see all sides of the park at once - one boundary at least must be invisible from wherever you stand. Fifth, there must be a gated entrance: a park need not necessarily be fenced or walled but it must have a portal - or several. Immediately we see how these five categories allow us to separate, for example, a park from a city square, however large or grand, or from a common.
SOURCE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/20/william-boyd-park-stories

Fanny Wilkinson, London garden designer, Octoavia Hill, the Kyle Society, the Metropolitan Act of 1881 (to turn disused burial grounds into public parks) and the history of London Parks are discussed in Enterprising Women: The Garretts and their Circle by Elizabeth Crawford, Francis Boutles Publishers, 2002.

ECO STARS (twitter@progresslondon)
Simon Ghartey
EcoStars - work with young people to empower them through environmental action.http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eco-Stars/107041619327275

DOGS IN PARKS  ETIQUETTE

Dogs in Royal Parks
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/docs/dogs/RP_DogsLeafletWEB.PDF
useful advice about dog management, waste management , wildlife management and people management in the various Royal Parks.


Warwick District Council: Dogs in parks
http://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/NR/EXERES/13F6B73C-9774-4C68-AD2E-631A886A8B64.htm
Dogs are welcome in all of Warwick District Council's parks, but if you do bring your dog to a park please be a responsible dog owner and follow these guidelines:
Dogs must be kept under control at all times.
Clear up your dog's mess. In many parks bins are provided and providing the dog waste is wrapped in a plastic bag it can be placed in an ordinary litter bin. Otherwise, take it home with you.
No animals whatsoever are allowed into children's play areas (guide dogs excepted).
When visiting one of our nature reserves dogs should be kept on a lead at all times.


IN GENERAL: Some Rules of Etiquette For Dog Owners
People come first. If there are people, especially children, and dogs in the park, supervise your dog closely. Children are more important than dogs.

The law requires that your dog must be under effective control at all times and you must dispose of dog faeces in a suitable manner. Always clean up after your dog (and if you see others, tell them to do the same). The presence of dog waste is the primary complaint about having dogs in parks.
Never leave your dog unattended.
Make certain your dog is well, and has it's vaccinations up-to-date.

Don’t bring a female dog in season. Spayed/neutered animals are recommended.
If your dog becomes unruly or plays rough, leash him and leave immediately.
Don’t smoke or eat, and dispose of rubbish you see (Cigarette butts and food wrappers are tempting treats to dogs, but bad for them).
Having your dog in the park is a privelege, not a right. Always observe all of the rules posted at your local park.

LIGHT POLLUTION (AND ITS AFFECT ON LIFE: BIRDS, INSCECTS, WILDLIFE, PEOPLE

http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/wildlife.html
Light pollution is a serious consideration, as continual light affects sleep patterns.Bats, Birds, insects, Trees are all affected by continuous light, and so are humans. In a light polluted site, birds are continuous chirping throughout the night, in anticipation of a dawn that will not arrive for many hours. This seriously disrupts their sleep patterns, preventing them from resting.

ROYAL SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS:
more information:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/watchingbirds/behaviour/nocturnalsong.asp~


GOOD LIGHTING
Campaign for Dark Skies
http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/awards.htm?6O

AMONGST OTHERS:
Zeta - Oxford Science Park (November, 2007)
Congratulations to Oxford Science Park and to lighting company Zeta Solar, for the installation of the triply environmentally-friendly Zeta Sunflower lights. The Zeta Sunflowers are (1) solar powered, (2) downward-directed (thus minimising any wasted light), and (3) employ dimming technology, such that the light dims when no-one is around over-night.
Presenting the award is Bob Mizon (right), to both Rob Horsfield of Oxford Science Park (left) and Phil Shadbolt of Zeta Solar (centre).

SOLAR LAMP POSTS

SOLAR LIGHTING AND LAMP POSTS

Solar lighting is a sustainable, safe alternative to conventional electric street lights. There is no need to dig trench, lay underground cables or resort to other expensive methods to install street lighting. There are no on-going costs once installed, no standing charges and best of all they are helping to reduce energy consumption. Besides that they are very environmentally friendly - they do not use any greenhouse gases as sunlight is converted into energy and stored in a battery. CONSIDERATIONS: Dusk to dawn lighting adds to light pollution for both the wildlife and neighbours overlooking the park. Lamps should be downward-directed, only on during evening hours 9rather than 24 hours a day) low illumination possible, and employ dimming technology, so that the light dims when no one is around..



Amongst other companies providing solar lighting:

http://www.zetasolar.com/cs_amenity.html
(used in Oxford and Edinburgh and recommended by Campaign for Dark Skies)

http://www.solarilluminations.co.uk/

http://www.brightlightsolar.com/acatalog/Street_Lighting.html

VOLUNTEERS

The Friends of the Park is a volunteer organisation and its membership will remain free.

It will encourage a range of free communal activities, including community gardens, monthly park tidy-ups, arts and crafts events, historical talks, festivals, and encourage special interest groups (gardeners, cooks, ecologists, dog lovers, bike lovers, joggers, Tai Chi practitioners, artists, bird-watchers, other Friends of other Parks) to meet and share experiences on a regular basis. This will help to bring neighbours together around common interests, helping us work towards ensuring our park remains safe, accessible, friendly, sustainable, educational and fun, and providing common ground for interaction between diverse groups. We will suggest suitable volunteer organisations, such as British Trust Conservation Volunteers and Time Banking UK  for people who would like to become even more involved in their community, and support groups such as the Royal National Institute of the Blind and DISC.

One of the communal projects will be to come together to identify the plants of the Park,  and devise some sort of mapping of the park and permanent display labels, with the plants' common names and latin names.



BTCV
BRITISH TRUST CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS
http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/about

Volunteering  ... has a number of clear advantages:
• It is, by definition, voluntary. Volunteers are not coerced into
change, but willingly choose to engage.
• It is active. People are more likely to change their patterns of
behaviour through practical action than simply receiving information.
• It is sustained. Behavioural change does not happen overnight.
Volunteering is generally an ongoing commitment,
increasing the likelihood of long-term development.
• It is empowering. Volunteering can give people the confidence,
motivation, knowledge and skills they need to make changes in
their lives.
On top of this, volunteers inspire others, leading to positive behavioural changes
within their families, communities and beyond. The contribution of volunteers
can go a long way towards changing the behaviours of society as a whole.
Contact Tom Nandi, at the BTCV head office in Camden,  for advice about community projects.



Eco Stars Time Bank – teenager gardening project volunteers
EcoStars - work with young people to empower them through environmental action. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eco-Stars/107041619327275

Simon Ghartey has been developing a new time bank in Brixton with his group of young people aged between 15 and 19. They have been involved in gardening projects, landscaping, planning and design (sensory gardens, community gardens etc), artwork and murals. They have been working with businesses, schools and youth groups in their borough and also in adjacent boroughs.  The team have involved around 180 people in their work so far and were appointed EU advisors for projects in Finland and Germany in 2011. To check out some of their work, have a look at their Facebook page. Just type in Eco Stars to search for their page.

QUESTIONS, IF YOU WANT YOUR GROUP TO HAVE HELP FROM THE ECO STARS:

Who and how many young people may want to get involved?
Where the project will happen and a brief outline of what you would like to achieve?
What resources you have, if any to assist with the development of the project?

The Eco Stars will offer:
An initial meeting to write a project plan and agree a timeline.
They will provide at least 3 visits to oversee the work.
They will provide consultation and advice sessions.

For more information about the The Eco Stars (Lambeth)
contact Simon Ghartey
(twitter @progresslondon)
or  Alison Paule Paxton Green Time Bank, London
alison AT pgtimebank.org
(twitter @pgtimebank)

Living Under One Sun
community garden
East Hale Allotments, Tottenham Hale
http://www.livingunderonesun.co.uk
twitter: #livingunder1sun

THE POETRY TREE PROJECT

Every park should have at least one tree with seating around it, where poets can read their poems. In established parks, the tree has been there many years. In others,  plant a black mulberry tree (Morus nigra) as your Poet Tree, in honour of the magnificent mulberry tree in the Keats Garden, and also the wonderful mulberry tree growing in the William Morris garden at Kelmscott Manor in Oxforshire.


PURPLE POETRY BENCHES PAINTED
OR PLANNED BY PURPLE POETS AND FRIENDS:


First Bench: June 26, 2010, Purple Poets, Cumberland Market
Cumberland Market Public Park
used by the H-Pod, Greenlight Pharmacies and West Euston Time Bank
, launched by the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Jonathan Simpson


(in development) 2011 Living Under One Sun
http://www.livingunderonesun.co.uk
East Hale Allotments
BTCV Green Flag for outstanding community work
BTCV and Living Under One Sun will be launching two Purple Poetry Benches for the children, autumn 2011
nearest tube: Tottenham Hale

BENCHES WAITING APPROVAL:
Paxton Green Time Bank, Paxton Green, LAMBETH (with Brixton Eco Stars)
two primary schools, Islington
The Victoria Pub, Mornington Crescent

VANDALISM AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY:
BROKEN WINDOW SYNDROME

E-Mail August 19th 2009: (from Kim Morrissey to Marek Wilusynski)
... I've met a very interesting Community Development expert through the Purple Poets' work with the Wellcome Trust, Kevin Harris, who gave a talk on Neighbouring, and has published books on Ageing in the Community, and Respect in the Community - and he's also written on dog-walkers and parks. Some of the conclusions from his books might be useful when considering Cumberland Market Square.
Although the outdoor gym equipment is a great success throughout all the community groups and ages (people saw women with burkas using it the other day) the boarded up broken windows of the connected building to the H Pod is very unsightly. If they will allow us, we'd be happy to paint them, to make them look like as if they are part of the building, not just convenient way to board up a broken window.
It seems like a small thing, but it could be very useful to discourage minor vandalism in the Park (have you heard of the broken Window Theory?)

BROKEN WINDOW THEORY:
"Philip Zimbardo (1973) recognised that high levels of crime occur in poorly managed and badly maintained street environments .... Zimbardo's experiment gave rise to the criminologists James Q. Wilson and George Kelling's theory of 'broken windows' (1982) which claims that one unattended broken window leads to many more. They observed that residents withdrew from a neglected and uncared for street environment. The informal control that their presence brought is lost and the vandals who created the problems become emboldened and intensify their harassment and vandalism. A vicious cycle then kicks in, with the lack of social contact eroding community involvement and the ensuing atmosphere attracting more serious offenders from outside the area who sense that it has become more vulnerable and therefore less risky site for criminal activity. The theory argues for attention to be paid to minor signs of decay such as litter, and prompt action to be taken to repair and maintain the street environment."
Philip J Connolly, chapter 5, 'Heelgood Factors: the Role of the Street Environment in Promoting Undermining Informal Social Control' in Respect in the Neighbourhood: Why Neighbourliness Matters, edited by Kevin Harris (London: Russell House Publishing) 2006.