Hello <<First Name>>
Thank you for coming to our community picnic on 25 June! It was an incredible day - the sun was shining and we loved that hundreds of you came to join in.
We had a lot of fun playing games, making crafts, listening to live music, eating incredible food and being with our friends and neighbours.
New Youth and Nature projects launched
We are delighted that Janet Daby MP could join us to launch two brilliant new projects - one for youth and one for nature - and share news of more fantastic new activities coming to the park.
Take part in our Young Voices Survey
To kick off the new Youth project, we would especially love to hear what young people would like to see and do in the older children's play and sport area.
Please do encourage the young people in your care to take part in our Young Voices survey this week!
More details on these exciting new projects and the Young Voices survey below.
Thank you!
A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers, community partners (including the team at Goldsmiths Community Centre) and park staff for your hard work enabling us to bring our wonderful community together.
We're grateful to our funders - the National Lottery Fund for the Mayor of London, Coop Local Community Fund and Phoenix Community Links. Thanks for your donations too - we raised over £400 in just a few hours.
What did you enjoy about the picnic? Let us know if you would like to have more lovely occasions like this in the future.
Love Pippa and the team
Forster Park Friends
#ForsterPark100
Celebrating 100 years of Forster Memorial Park and Designing for the Future Together.
#LoveForsterPark #MayorsCommunityWeekend #WeareLewisham #ParkPlay #PhoenixTogether #GreenShoots #Makespaceforgirls #outdoorplay #RewildLondon @lewishamcouncil @mayorofldn @tnlcommunityfund @goldsmithscommcentre @frothycoffeehut @coop
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NEW! Young Voices Survey
Please encourage your young people to take part in our new survey
Calling all 9-19 year olds! Do you want to make Forster Park a better place?
We want to hear your ideas for making a safe and inclusive space for all @ForsterMPark, where you feel welcome and want to come and spend time.
Please fill in the survey here or scan the QR Code above by Sunday 23 July 2023.
To get involved in design sessions too (you will get vouchers for taking part), please let us know by including your contact details in the survey.
Let's make Forster Park a safer and more welcoming and inclusive place for all Young People!
Thank you💚
#MakeSpaceForGirls #ParkPlay #LoveForsterPark #ForsterPark100
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Photos: Verity McGuire
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New Youth and Nature projects launched!
It has been a particularly special year - in 2022 we celebrated 100 years since Forster Park was opened for the people of Lewisham. And now, as a legacy from the centenary, we will be designing improvements together for the future - investing in nature and young people.
We are thrilled that Janet Daby MP launched two new projects at our Community Picnic that will be delivered by Lewisham Council and Glendale, in close collaboration with the Friends of Forster Park:
A new Forster Park Ancient Woodland restoration project, funded by (£35k) The Mayor of London’s Rewild London fund, which will include volunteer and education sessions for the local community. Together our volunteer Tree Team, and children from Rushey Green Primary School, are starting to work with the Council to bring the ancient woodland to life, encourage woodland species to flourish and learn valuable traditional woodland management skills for the future.
A new Youth #parkplay project to create a safe, inclusive and welcoming play and sport area for older children and young people, funded by (£25k) the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), which will include young people, especially girls, being involved in redesigning their space.
We hope that many of you will be involved in our community and that these improvements will benefit people of all ages and abilities, and protect our beautiful woodland for generations to come.
New Junior Park Run - coming soon!
We are also really excited to share that Junior Park Run will be coming soon to Forster Park! This will be a free community event on Sunday mornings (9am), where children aged 4-14 and their families can walk, jog or run 2km round the park. More details below.
We would like to see more activities in the park every day of the week! – If you have a great activity or idea, please do get in touch with us or Glendale to get started!
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Events
Forest Church
Saturday 15 July, 11am -12.30pm
Come and join St Luke's Church Downham for Forest Church. We meet at The Outdoor Learning Area. Crafts and activities whilst surrounded by nature. All are welcome!
Contact: children@canddparish.co.uk or 07957 635 918.
Regular activities
Tuesday
Healthy Walks, 10.30-11.30am
Join this friendly walking group for a walk to and around Forster Park. Meet 10.45 at the Longhill Road entrance to the park. Free. No booking needed, just turn up. All welcome!
More info Steve st@zbee.com and www.walkingforhealth.org.uk
Wednesday
EarlyBird Bootcamp, 6.50-7.40am
Rise, shine, and get moving! Forget the morning coffee, roll out of bed, grab those trainers and meet us in Forster Park to press up, squat and burpee as the first rays of sunlight shine through the trees in the morning breeze! Mixed event, suitable for all. £8.50/session. Meet at the pavilion.
More info and to book: www.gymcatch.com/app/provider/154/contact
Friday
Gardening Club - Weekly Volunteer Gardening sessions, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Meet at the Centenary Sensory Garden (top edge of the playing field). The garden is inclusive for all volunteers and visitors. More info contact Debbie at foforsterparkvolunteers@gmail.com or in the Forster Park Friends Facebook group.
Saturday
Lewisham Lionhearts U12 and U14 football training, 9.30-11.30am
Football training for 10-14 year old boys and girls (school years 5-9), all abilities welcome.
More info: www.fclewishamlionhearts.org Contact lewishamlionheartsfc@yahoo.co.uk or 07391 747 579
Saturday and Sunday
SportsFun4All football club, 10am-12noon
Football club for boys and girls of mixed abilities and ages 3-14, with FA qualified coaching staff.
More info: www.sportsfun4all.com
Coming soon! Sunday
Junior Park Run, 9am
A free, community event where children aged 4-14, and their families, can walk, jog, or run, 2km round Forster Park. If you don't feel like taking part you can volunteer or spectate. Parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive, there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along.
More info: Parkrun UK
Various days – July’s session, Saturday 10am -12noon tbc
Tree Team - Monthly Volunteer Woodland Rewilding Sessions
Meet at the Pavilion / café in the main field. Join our friendly and diverse team of volunteers for practical work sessions in the woods. Days alternate between Saturday or weekday mornings.
See social media for updates and contact Elvia foforsterparkvolunteers@gmail.com to join the what’s app group.
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Cafe
The Frothy Coffee Hut is open daily now from 10am-6pm daily, serving hot and cold drinks, food and ice creams. Table tennis bats available to borrow. @frothycoffeehut
Toilets
The toilets are open daily during cafe and park keeper hours in the Pavilion. A key to the disabled toilet and baby change facilities is available - just ask any of the cafe staff for the key.
Please note: All weekly activities are run by third parties unless stated above, please check up to date information with individual contacts. Friends of Forster Memorial Park accept no liability.
To share your activity here, please email the activity, time, day/date, cost, booking details and contact info to Foforsterparkfriends@gmail.com . Thanks
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#Love Forster Park?
Please report any graffiti, fly tipping, vandalism, litter issues or anything broken to Lewisham@glendale-services.co.uk and on Love Clean Streets. Report fallen trees here. Call 111 or 999 for any illegal activity or in an emergency.
Join and support our work as a member of Forster Park Friends here.
Volunteer to join our lovely team and help keep improving our lovely park. Email foforsterparkvolunteering@gmail.com to find out more and get involved. Thanks!
Please help us spread the word by sharing this newsletter with your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, etc. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates @forsterMpark.
Thanks!
#LoveForsterPark #ForsterPark100 #ParkPlay
www.forsterparkfriends.org
www.facebook.com/forsterMpark
www.instagram.com/ForsterMpark
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