Come and meet the Friends (and AGM)

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We are inviting those with an interest in Lowndes Park to come and meet the Friends of Lowndes Park over a glass of wine (and some nibbles) at 7.30 at the Town Hall on Thursday 17th of November. We want to use the event to discuss the council’s proposals for the Playground and how the Friends hope to get involved. We have also invited Peter Hawkes to display some of his images of the park from the turn of the 19th/20th Century. This will be an opportunity to join the Friends or maybe get involved in the park.

What’s Happening With The Playground?

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The playground: you know it, we know it, and the Council knows it – all the equipment is broken or needs replacing. Chesham Town Council have taken a survey of public opinion and are now ready to move forward with the next step in this project. And they have asked us to get involved. It’s going to take some fundraising! Why not come along to our meeting (we are going to sneak the AGM in as well, and wine and nibbles) to find out more!

The Lowndes Park Masterplan!

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We are fundraising to shape the redesign of Lowndes Park.

We are fundraising to influence the redesign of Lowndes Park. We strongly believe that the park needs a new Masterplan to refresh and rejuvenate it to continue to thrive in the twenty-first century.

Successful parks have successful ‘Friends’ groups like ours. We see our role as being the conduit between you, the park user, and the Council. We want to reflect your ideas for the park and represent your needs. We want to challenge the Council and hold them to account. To make sure we prevent an unsatisfactory piecemeal approach which doesn’t meet the needs of today’s park user.

Parks are living things growing and adapting to the changing needs of the communities they serve. We love our park but it’s starting to look old and tired.

Play equipment in dire need of replacement, lack of accessibility, poor design, the filthy pond…the list of problems with Lowndes Park goes on. And the Council knows there is a problem. In fact, in February 2017 the Council set up a working party to look at all issues relating to the park and its management in order to inform the development of a new park Management Plan. The Friends were involved in the early meetings and we led a review of the Park looking at Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats, since when we have heard nothing.

At our AGM in May 2018 we took advantage of the presence of the Mayor to ask for an update (The Mayor sat on the working Party) and she told us that we would see progress in early 2019.

Since then it’s all gone quiet.

It’s now 2019 and the Friends Of Lowndes Park believe it’s time for us to help drive this project forward.

Responsibility for Lowndes Park ultimately lies with Chesham Town Council, but we strongly believe that the park needs a new Masterplan to refresh and rejuvenate it to continue to thrive in the twenty-first century.

Successful parks have successful ‘Friends’ groups like ours. We see our role as being the conduit between you, the park user, and the Council. We want to reflect your ideas for the park and represent your needs. We want to challenge the Council and hold them to account. To make sure we prevent an unsatisfactory piecemeal approach which doesn’t meet the needs of today’s park user. It is also the case that many funding bodies that may help pay for the Masterplan will only do so if there is a thriving community/membership organisation like ours working with the Council to create the new park.

So, what is the Masterplan?

  • Could we have a new café facility near the playground?
  • What about a function room?
  • What play equipment should we have?
  • How will the Chesham Renaissance plans to integrate the park into the town affect the park?
  • How could we improve access, navigation and information in the park?

 

There is so much more Lowndes Park could offer Chesham’s residents. But we need your voice.

So, please join us. Become a member or make a donation. Sign up to our newsletter and get involved. Help us create the Lowndes Park Masterplan now and for future generations.
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Scottowes Pond needs a clean up

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Help! The pond is dying and needs your help!

Skottowes Pond was dug out in the early 18th Century and it’s in desperate need of cleaning up. The pond is approximately 120m long and 40m at its widest point, with concrete edging and a path running around its entire edge. Water is supplied by a borehole, licensed by the Environment Agency, which feeds the pond’s fountain. The pond water feeds into the the River Chess

The problem:

  • The run-off from the main road through Chesham, running adjacent to the pond, means the pond has been contaminated with what is now considered toxic waste. This silt could be removed, but the costs are stratospheric. We are looking into alternatives to cover the silt.
  • Water levels in the pond have lowered due to the silting and there is a lack of aquatic vegetation for wildlife.
  • The pond is overly dominated with domestic geese that have been abandoned in the park. In a recent survey of the park, over 60% of respondents said that the wildfowl populations were too high. In consultation with the Friends of Lowndes Park, park users referred to the fact that they didn’t eat lunch near the pond as they were harassed by the geese and some parents didn’t take their children there because of the proliferation of goose excrement.
  • The island has been eroded by overuse caused by the proliferation of mostly domestic fowl.
  • There is little or no aquatic planting to encourage wildlife.
  • The path around the pond is deteriorating and is in need of repair. The footpath along the western side of the pond is narrow and this can make it difficult for people to pass other path users.

Our Plans:

We are encouraging the Council to work with us to follow the masterplan and progress the renovation of Skottowes Pond. We will be applying for grants and raise donations for the work. There is also a policy for waterfowl management that has been drafted by the Council and will be developed in consultation with the public.

In addition we’d love to:

  • Improve access around the pond
  • Suppress the silt
  • Establish an area of aquatic planting to encourage greater biodiversity in the pond area
  • Stabilise the island, replant and create more foliage cover

If you can help, please donate or get involved.
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