NEWS IN BRIEF
As I write we are back in lockdown with the promise that it may be over by soon, but who knows? Whatever happens it is good to see so many using and appreciating the park. Many of those discovering the wonderful space will not be members or may not even know about the Friends, so do spread the work whenever you are able.
Regular visitors will have seen that work has progressed on the new Community Garden. We are very grateful to Peter Hackett and the team at NBC for all they have done and will be doing.
For Friends involvement see the details in this letter.
As you will see the Museum is also offering new services at this time and they are looking for your cooperation in a new project.
Our AGM, normally held in May was postponed as was a planned meeting for October. We will be circulating reports from the Committee as well as an appeal for new Committee members.
AGM:
Our AGM normally takes place in May and is held in Abington Museum. It is a convivial event and an opportunity for members to connect socially, exchange views and introduce new members to the society.
We have a guest speaker which we try to make extra special for the occasion. All our plans were of course scuppered this year as were reports from your officers.
It is also the occasion when we elect the members to our committee and invite anyone who would like to contribute to the group to join us. It is not onerous. We normally meet about five times each year – between member meetings. Currently our occasional meetings are held virtually via Zoom at a time to suit everyone.
We are investing in new forms of communication to ensure that we all stay connected over these difficult times.
The reports from officers for 2019-2020 will be circulated shortly to all members.
Committee of the Friends
The committee, which comprises around 4-6 members, provides a bridge between members, the Borough Council and Park Management Committee (PMC). All proposals or ideas for the park are taken via the
Committee to PMC which meets quarterly and is chaired by Anne Stevens. Barry Ryan represents the Friends at those meetings.
As a member of the committee you will comment on or bring ideas for consideration on any aspect of the park that comes to our notice. We have identified some specific roles that we would especially like to create in order to improve our work, but any member, with no particular designated responsibility is also welcome:
Current members (all have yet to be formally confirmed for the current year) :
Chair:Dave Fleming
Secretary:Anne Stevens
Finance Officer: Jo McDonnell
Web Editor: Phil McDonnell
Would you like to join us? We welcome new members. We particularly need help with the following:
PR: We would welcome someone wo would provide information and a link point to the local paper, Radio Northampton and Abington & Around. We provide the magazine with brief updates for each issue – run so ably by Des and Bev. Their venture has grown into a major part of local life across Northampton.
Minute Secretary: Someone to take brief minutes of general and committee minutes for the records.
If you have particular skills or ideas that you can offer and you would support our work, please contact us.
Any new nominees or current postholders who wish to continue will be confirmed via email.
If you would like to join, please contact the secretary.
PMC and Park Action Plan:
Issues raised at PMC or under discussion are captured in the Park Management Plan. The plan and any other information is available on request from the Secretary.
Membership
We have not had a membership drive of late due to circumstances. We are aware that more people than ever are using the park and enjoying the facilities so do encourage all those whom you know or meet to join.
We include a membership renewal reminder in this letter. Membership is valid over a calendar year. Direct payments to the bank account work well and mean less work, but any method of payment is fine.
If you pay directly to the bank, please let me know and pass the form on to a friend.
We rely on your support to cover our direct costs.
Fundraising:
Our main project for the coming months is the final phase of the Community Garden project. This will be the installation of a ramped entrance area from near the current playground. The slope is very steep and the work involves a long zig-zagged ramp in order to reduce the angle for buggies and wheelchairs.
We are very grateful to the Borough Council who have resurfaced the area in preparation for new childrens’ games to be painted around and between picnic tables and benches. The tables will include at least one that allows for wheelchair access.
The final stage includes the redvelopment of the central flowerbed. The surrounding wall be raised and the soil and compost renewed in order to provide a fertile growing medium. The planning and planting will be a collaborative effort, including idverde who have kindly agreed to work alongside young people from both Olympus and Workbridge in the new installation. Details are not yet finalised and further collaborations are under consideration.
It is also hoped to install information boards giving the history of the area and other information.
Our fundraising campaign starts soon –more details will be found on our website.
We have a page on Localgiving –
https://localgiving.org/charity/friends-of-abington-park/
– where, if you wish to donate to the Friends, any funds raised will also allow us to benefit from Giftaid.
Website
We are very grateful to Phil McDonnell our web editor for his sterling work in keeping the site updated. This is all the more important in these times of virtual communication only. We aim to explore and exploit any means possible to reach out to local communities among and beyond the Friends group.
Our site provides details of our partners as well as the clubs and groups who normally use the park. We are creating a members’ area on the site where you can post comments, news or photos. We will also use the space to canvass your views on specific issues.
We would like to do more but we need help to better connect with local radio and the local paper. If you feel you could help with this please contact me at the address below.
Aviaries
You will have noted the many improvements to the aviaries over past months. The new entrance gates provide not only regulated access but also protection to the birds at all times. The proposed design for the new arch has been circulated and was much approved. This will be installed soon.
Abington Museum
The Museum remains closed for now. Details of online events and activities are available and details can be found on our website.
PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order
This has been updated and the relevant details for Abington Park are set out below. They have changed little but are updated every three years. They are for guidance – though the Park Ranger has the power to impose on the spot fines where necessary. As the person most frequently around the park he will mainly be implementing the regulations. New signage will be installed once the Borough changes to West Northamptonshire. The essential wording is:
The PSPO means that there are a number of conditions that you will need to abide by when visiting areas covered by the order. The conditions have been brought in to ensure that Northampton is kept safe from crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. Any breach of the PSPO conditions could result in a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or keeping dogs on leads in areas close to play areas facing prosecution and a fine of up to £1000.
The regulations apply dog fouling, keeping dogs on leads in areas close to play areas, the ban on the drinking of alcohol or other intoxicating drinks in public areas, the ingesting, smoking or injecting of other
Intoxicating substances in public areas. Urination and defecation are banned in all areas other than public toilets.
We hope that the regulations will persuade visitors to respect the park and help to keep it safe and clean.
Anne Stevens, Secretary, Friends of Abington Park
November 2020