Hi there, Emma from Friends of Mayow Park (FOMP) here...

There's lots going on in Mayow Park at the moment. On March 1st we were finally appointed our own permanent full-time Park-Keeper, Gilles. Since then, the park has really improved - it's free of litter, he's performing low-maintenance jobs like filling in pot-holes, edging grass and just his presence is deterring any petty crime that used to exist in the past.

On July 18th, Iris in the Envirowork nursery is hosting a Big Lunch from 1pm. This is the final day in the Sydenham Arts Festival Visual Arts Trail, so maybe you could combine it while you're around the area. Get in touch with Iris if you want to get involved to meet some of your neighbours: enviroworklewisham@gmail.com

Other news from last week's meetings will be featured in Tuesday's South London Press....

Summer Activities for Under 5s
Ross Walker from TeachSport has put in a tender for funds for under 5s activities in Mayow Park during the summer which will include mobile equipment such as a mini-gym, tunnels, story-telling and theatre. This sounds very exciting so let us hope the funding bid is successful. Watch for publicity around the summer holidays. Ross Walker is also development Officer for Cricket with Kent Cricket Club and has been working with Peter Ranken (Envirowork CEO) on the park’s cricket project.

Cricket Update
Funding has been secured by Envirowork Lewisham, the local social enterprise that employs and trains long-term unemployed people, for the construction of 16 cricket squares for Mayow Park from the London Marathon Charitable Trust and the England Wales Cricket Board.

The contract for this part of the project will be handled directly by Lewisham Council and a contractor, Bancroft Amenities, has been appointed, subject to approval by Mayor and Cabinet Contracts in July. Work is anticipated to start in August.

In addition, Envirowork has also been awarded funding from the England and Wales Cricket Board and The Big Lottery to purchase equipment to maintain the cricket square and also to develop and maintain the outfields.

This work will start in September and it is hoped, weather permitting to have the ground ready for play in May/June 2011.

Area for Older Children
During a positive meeting last Friday, we were offered a further £20-25K from Greenscene's Park Improvement funds. It is also possible to get further funds from each of Perry Vale and Sydenham's Localities Funds via the Wards' Assemblies. This will add to the £60K that is available for the Area for Older Children project. This project is on target, at the detailed design phase and developing well with exciting play eqipment for ages 10+. Since this area is linear, extra equipment can be added over time.

Paths and Boundaries
We are exploring the possibility of removing the internal secondary fencing along this northern boundary and talked about planting a variety of fruit and nut plants in place.

We drew Greenscene's attention to the patches of path near the Recreation Road entrance which are in a very poor condition. It was agreed that funds be set aside to improve this part of the path as the first step to improving the paths throughout the park.

Emma Tarling & Alona Sheridan, FOMP

check our blog: http://www.mayowpark.wordpress.com
Join our group: Friends of Mayow Park (FOMP) Facebook Group.