Parks

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Big changes on Glassmill

In the last week a lot has changed here with a large channel being dug out, adjacent to the footpath. The river flow has now been diverted down this channel, which will allow work to start on creating an enhanced ‘official’ river channel on the opposite side. A long bank, or bund, will then separate the river channel from the open pond area.

Over twenty years worth of silt has so far been dug out to create this channel. While it looks messy at present it should soon start to look a lot better. The work is scheduled to take about a month.

You can find more about the background of this on our Glassmill Pond Restoration Project page

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Foxglove tree in flower

Foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

With the recent loss of a favourite old tree (Holm Oak) it is good to see a young tree showing itself off nearby. This is the Paulownia, also known as the Foxglove Tree due to its large mauve bell shaped flowers. These come out before the leaves, and make a lovely sight at this time of year. This particular specimen is located near the Church Road entrance to Church House Gardens. There is another much older tree elsewhere in the park, but it wonky has a few flowers on it.

The trees in Church House Gardens are well worth looking out for. So why not see what you can spot when you next visit?

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The Bromley Oak: a veteran still carrying on

Not many people take much notice of this venerable Oak Tree (Quercus rubor), now isolated on Kentish Way. As a result of building the dual carriageway, and the immediately adjacent Pavilion Sports Centre, its branches and roots were severely reduced, resulting in its rather smaller current appearance. The girth of the twin trunks however gives a clue to its long life, probably of some 300 years. As the plaque mentions it is one of the “Great Trees of London”

Originally part of the Bromley Lodge estate, in 1892 it was to be found in the garden of a large property in Elmfield Road called ‘Sundown’, occupied by a David Israel MA. Just over the wall from the garden was the historic Love Lane. The 1892 map below shows the site, with the approximate position of the Bromley Oak marked by a cross.

So the next time you walk past, please stop to look and admire it, a survivor of an older Bromley with the associated historic Love Lane.

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Spring arrives on College Green

After a very wet March spring has arrived on College Green. While the daffodils are now ending flowering, tulips and hyacinths are now taking their place. Also our newly planted flowering cherry sapling was in bloom. Their colours cannot help but lift our spirit and encourage us to celebrate our local parks.

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Our parks in winter

During the recent snow our parks temporarily took on a different appearance. While carefully negotiating the paths, trying not to slip on the paths o, our green spaces became even more magical. With everyone elsewhere busily shopping for Christmas it was very quiet. Inevitably over the coming days this changes, but our parks still remain a special place for both local residents and visitors – right in the town centre.