Am hearing rumours that there may be farmers market starting up at Blythe Hill. It would be great for us and suspect it would benefit from all the HOP-ers and people in Catford who don't want to trek to Brockley Market or Horniman. Does anyone know anything about this or is it wishful thinking?
Thanks
Hi Tenbybelle,
I am the secretary of the Friends of Blythe Hill Fields and this is the first I have heard of it.
Would you mind letting me know where you heard this from?
Personally I think this would be a good idea and would like to know more if possible.
Our AGM will be held on Wednesday 6 November at the Blythe Hill Tavern and you would be welcome to attend and let us know more then too.
Leo Stevens
Hi there. I actually just overheard two people talking about it on the train. If I see them again I will have a chat with them to see where they haed it from or whether its just wishful thinking
Personally I think its a great idea as the festival is always a success so suspect having other regular foodie events there would be a hit with the locals.
I will try and pop along on 7th.
TB
Could it be they were talking about Hilly Fields, which I believe does have a
regular market?
I've been thinking how it would be great if HOP had its own farmer's market! Could this be considered? This lot run the weekly market in West Hampstead which is excellent (a lot of variety in a small space)
http://www.lfm.org.uk/ and the people running the Hilly Fields market could be contacted too. If not Blythe Hill fields, where? What is that embankment next to HOP station used for/intended for? The grounds by Stillness School? All a bit pie in the sky I know but would this be supported locally??
The old nursery area would be ideal and doesn't seem to be used for much. An excellent idea - why not try contacting Southwark Council and ask them?
Ive only been in HOP for about a year (and I thank my lucky stars I stumbled across this lovely area - and where we could actually afford a garden!).... When you say the old nursery, is that the bank of land next to HOP station? I can email those companies that run farmers markets and will investigate with Southwark too.
Great to see other interest in a farmers/food market.
However - wouldn't Blythe hill would be a better location for one as the nursery site is surely too close to the horniman? Seems pretty close and one in Blythe hill would also attract more of the catford and crofton park residents.
I vote for one in Blythe Hill Fields because I am lazy (and getting over a sprained ankle) so prefer not to have to walk too far
Minicrinkle, yes it is, more specifically the flat land adjacent to the tracks. It even has its own road access, currently blocked. If you are serious about this then please do send me a PM. May be able to assist.
Tennybelle, I do not have an issue with siting a market on Blythe Hills, any site you choose will be better for some than others, though for us would probably not get our business as Horniman is closer and dare I say it better location for this. I don't think that the old Nursery would be too close to the Horniman - if FH wanted to set up a market outside the pools that would be even closer but am sure would fly if well run.
More importantly, the old nursery site could benefit the local businesses - cf my post here
http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php...1#pid58441. It would require cooperation from Southwark though which is far from a given.
I am really not fussed where we site it and happy to assist in trying to get it off the ground!
Just be warned that a market could have an adverse affect on our lovely shops in HOP - there's another thread on here about the Horniman market causing a lack of Saturday trade in Dartmouth Road. That's not to say it shouldn't happen... it just needs to happen in conjunction with the HOP traders.
Hoona - I totally agree (as you will see from my posts on that thread) Any market should run with the support of the local food traders and if it increases footfall should be used to promote all the local businesses and hopefully visversa.
I personally feel that businesses who have decided to invest in our local high streets should be given 'first dibs' on any stalls.
I am not sure a Farmers' Market full of stalls that are just from the local shops would be a success. I personally would rather have something different, as I go to the shops I want to go to anyway!
That wasnt really what I was suggesting and personally feel it should be a mixture of both. All I am saying is if we want a deli or coffee stall we should offer that to the local businesses first.
I emailed Southwark (just used their general email address, no idea who to contact) and no response. Any ideas who would be good to ask? Does anyone have any contacts there?
In terms of competing with the highstreet, the market in West Hampstead has butchers, fishmongers, bakeries, chilli jam, cheese, vegetables and cake stalls. And occasionally alcohol! We dont have our own butchers, fishmongers, green grocers etc (I dont think Sainsburys counts!), in fact we are sadly lacking in these departments, so I dont think there is worry there? Possibly/probably competition for Hills and Parks for cheese and the like and the cake places like Pat-a-Cakes but from what Ive read H&P started as a stall so could sell there, as could Pat-a-Cakes etc. ....if that isnt against the rules of the farmers market, Ill check (they are all certified). The market in W Hamps operates alongside a busy high street (of course W Hamps highstreet is more established but bringing footfall to HOP high street could be a good thing?).
I would agree with a certain percentage of the market being set aside for local businesses, at free or reduced rates, as well as farmers selling (which I think are British farms so we are still supporting a good cause), it could be the best compromise?
Anyway, I emailed the London Farmers Markets
http://www.lfm.org.uk/markets/westhampstead/
And they have reponded saying 'Did you have a site in mind? It would ideally need to be 30m x 30m and hard standing'. So we need to do a little investigation with that in mind!
Any ideas? I believe someone From Blythe Hill Fields posted to this thread earlier, if you are still reading this, please do let us know if any sites there would work!
Can we change the name of this thread somehow? Would be good to get a wide base of opinions from users of the site, so we will need to attract attention! Am pretty new to this site so it's beyond me at the moment.
I did briefly mention this at our agm and it had been proposed a few years ago but glendale said that, as there is no mains water or electricity supply at the park it would not be a suitable location.
I will ask again though in case their policy has changed.